San Carlos Art Faire features physicians quizzing passers-by
Dr. Sarah Browne, a Kaiser Permanente pediatrician, was holding an 11-by-14-inch flip chart, with health-oriented questions and multiple-choice answers, and asking San Carlos fair goers “How many minutes a week for health should you exercise?” or “What is a healthy blood pressure?” (Answers below)
Those that answered or pointed at the right choice got a re-useable shopping bag and a chance to spin a wheel for another prize. Those that pointed at the wrong answer also got a re-useable shopping bag anyway.
“This is our way of connecting with the community,” laughed Dr. Browne, who was cradling the flip chart in one arm and holding dozens of re-useable shopping bags in the other. “And it’s fun engaging people in health.”
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Dr Browne was with a team of her fellow physicians from the Kaiser Permanente San Mateo Medical Office, who spent the weekend volunteering at the Kaiser Permanente fair booth on Laurel Street in downtown San Carlos.
An “art and wine” faire isn’t normally considered a place for health advice, but Kaiser Permanente’s Community Benefit program is a sponsor of the 23-year-old event. With medical offices and a hospital nearby, San Carlos is a neighbor of KP.
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The physicians all wore bright blue scrubs, emblazoned with the Kaiser Permanente logo and the letters “KP MD” in big white print on the back. Dr. Browne wore a floppy hat to protect her from the sun, and the Kaiser Permanente booth at the San Carlos fair was doing a booming business in sun block.
The questions being asked along with the answers were taken from Kaiser Permanente’s Thrive recommendations; with the physicians asking the fair goers, the encounter was designed to encourage people to think about their own health choices.
“We’re giving the fair goers a chance to see what Kaiser Permanente is all about,” said Dr. Irene Lee-Klass, a Family Medicine physician at the KP San Mateo Medical Office.
Aside from sun-screen and lip balm, the Kaiser Permanente booth was stocked with pamphlets and flyers offering health suggestions. Later on Sunday afternoon, a giant red heart stopped by the booth. “Cardia Heart” is a character from Kaiser Permanente’s Education Theater program, and it symbolizes KP’s success in preventing heart disease. Among Northern California members, serious heart attacks have been reduced by more than 60%.
Oh, and the correct answers to the questions above: 150 minutes-per-week of exercise is considered good for your health (and your heart) , and the optimal blood pressure is 120-over-80.
