UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center Brings Health and Employment Resources to Brooklyn Park During Community Wellness Day

Hospital volunteers shared health resources, administered flu shots and handed out fresh produce boxes to promote health and well-being at Park Elementary School

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (Oct. 18, 2022) – Twenty-four volunteers from the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) and community organizations led health and wellness activities for Anne Arundel County residents during Community Wellness Day on Saturday Oct. 15 at Park Elementary School in Brooklyn Park. The family-friendly event promoted health care resources as well as employment opportunities available through the hospital.

More than 280 individuals came from nearby neighborhoods to participate in activities coordinated by hospital and community volunteers. Adults and kids practiced their karate chops and dance moves, and rolled up their sleeves to receive flu vaccinations. Volunteers administered free blood pressure screenings, vision tests, body mass index (BMI) tests, and blood-glucose tests to test for diabetes. Participants also received information on nutrition, women's health, child development, car seat safety, mental health and smoking awareness. Representatives from the hospital's Human Resources Department discussed career opportunities in health care and at UM BWMC. Volunteers also distributed more than 150 produce boxes and 400 healthy to-go lunches to health fair attendees.

"We really strive to bring support and resources to community members where they live and work," said Kathy McCollum, President and CEO of UM BWMC. "Our goal is to empower families and individuals to build healthy habits, prevent disease and make informed health care decisions. The best way to do that is through collaborations with local organizations such as schools, community health organizations and non-profits who share our passion for community health."

Hospital team members joined volunteers from 16 local organizations to offer health and wellness resources and services as well as fun activities for families across the county. Participating organizations included the American Heart Association, Anne Arundel County Department of Health, Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Anne Arundel County Department of Emergency Preparedness, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Anytime Fitness, Caring Cupboard, Total Health Care, Lions Association for Sight and Hearing, University of Maryland Extension, the Y of Pasadena, Face Works Events, HealthCare Access Maryland, Maryland Physicians Care, Maryland Poison Center, Maryland's Best Karate, Parasoul Yoga, and Specialized Instruction and Compliance for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

This is the second large-scale Community Wellness Day that UM BWMC has organized since the COVID-19 pandemic. The first, held this past April at the hospital's new Outpatient Care Center, welcomed 265 individuals to learn about preventive health programs as well as new support groups and exercises classes offered at the center.

"Local events such as Community Wellness Day help promote health care resources available in Anne Arundel County through the hospital and local organizations. It's these local collaborations that help remove common barriers to preventative health care. We're really excited that together with local volunteers we were able to offer 61 free health screenings and 66 flu vaccinations," said Rebecca Dooley, Community Outreach Manager at UM BWMC."

Additional community health fairs are being planned for 2023.

About the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center

The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) is an acute-care facility that is part of the University of Maryland Medical System. It is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland and has 314 beds and more than 3,100 team members. It also has 1,200 medical providers on staff in over 50 specialties. For more information, visit www.umbwmc.org.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state's future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System's anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org