Cedars-Sinai Addresses Hispanic Community Needs at Telemundo 52 Health and Wellness Expo

Reflecting the need for healthcare in the Hispanic community, an overflow crowd estimated at 30,000 attended the Telemundo 52 Salud & Bienestar (Health & Wellness) Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A major draw was the team of 150 physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center providing free health services including medical screenings, flu shots, nutrition counseling, risk assessment for breast cancer, yoga exercises, and more. Fitness and fun activities by COACH for Kids and their Families® in the Kids Zone included the chance to play Doctor for a Day or Nurse for a Day.

“Critical health needs – diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol – were more evident this year,” noted Cedars-Sinai Chief Nursing Officer Linda Burnes Bolton, RN, DrPH, FAAN.

At the March 13 event, Irene Sierra waited patiently with her husband in a long line for diabetes and cholesterol screenings. “It’s worth the wait,” she said. “My main concern is high cholesterol.” Sierra said this was the first time she would be tested for blood glucose and cholesterol levels, adding, “I’ve been waiting all year (for the Health Expo). Cedars-Sinai has good doctors, a good hospital. This is a good opportunity for me,” she said with a smile.

“The majority of people we’re seeing today don’t have health insurance,” said Abby Ang, RN, as she checked a woman’s blood pressure. She counseled the woman in Spanish about the test and directed her to the next area for other screenings. “Her reading was normal, but she was concerned because her mother has high blood pressure,” Ang said.

“Cedars-Sinai’s team contribution to this year’s health expo made a significant difference, attracting larger crowds to the Expo for free health services,” said Victor Franco, Vice President of Community Relations for Telemundo. “We couldn’t be more pleased with our partnership, especially with the expertise of the Cedars-Sinai team.” The large turnout represented a 30 percent increase over attendance at the Health Expo last year.

Providing free medical services at health fairs like Telemundo’s is just one part of Cedars-Sinai’s commitment to improving the health of the community. In fiscal year 2010, the medical center’s financial contribution to Community Benefit programs and services totaled $502.4 million, reflecting a vital part of its mission. This contribution includes: free and part-pay care for the uninsured and those with limited means; unpaid costs of government programs such as Medicare; clinical research; education for health professionals; and hundreds of community service programs. For more than 100 years, Cedars-Sinai, the largest nonprofit, private medical center in the Western United States, has been committed to meeting the health needs of the community. For more information on Cedars-Sinai and the Medical Center’s Community Benefit programs and services, visit http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Community-Benefit/.