UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center Community Wellness Event with Chase Brexton Health Care Draws Hundreds of Local Residents

Participants had first opportunity to shop on the new Caring Cupboard mobile pantry bus and get free preventative health screenings for common health issues

Glen Burnie, Md. Over 350 people participated in Community Wellness Day at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center's Outpatient Care Center earlier this month. The free health fair held in collaboration with Chase Brexton Health Care drew the largest turnout in the event's history.

Dozens of volunteers from UM BWMC joined representatives from over 30 other community organizations to coordinate the interactive family health event that included free health care screenings, family fun activities and information on community health resources available to the local residents. Over 200 participants received preventative screenings for blood pressure and the carotid artery. Demonstrations included CPR simulations, car seat safety and other interactive activities promoting diabetes and heart health awareness.

The Caring Cupboard mobile pantry bus made its debut during the event, giving residents and families time to shop for canned goods, nonperishable food items, toiletries and hygiene products. The remodeled bus designed to bring the grocery store to shoppers who need it most, is retro-fitted with shelves that are filled with donated pantry items. The renovation was made possible thanks to a $50,000 Impact Grant from the University of Maryland Medical System as part of their commitment to tackling food insecurity across the state. Caring Cupboard will use the mobile pantry to deliver essential items directly into the neighborhoods where access to transportation and grocery stories has traditionally been limited.

"Our mission has always been to care for our community, both inside and outside of our walls. Food insecurity, homelessness and poor access to primary care are real health concerns in Anne Arundel County," said Kathy McCollum, President and CEO of UM BWMC. "By working with local organizations such as Chase Brexton Health Care and Caring Cupboard, we are able to bring critical resources to our community, and empower them to choose healthier options and create an all-inclusive approach to health and wellness that goes beyond traditional care models."

The event was made possible thanks to more than two dozen volunteers who hosted educational tables and activities. Medical professionals from UM BWMC administered free screenings including blood pressure, carotid artery, skin checks for melanoma (through Anne Arundel Dermatology), and HIV testing (through Chase Brexton). 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 Hungry Harvest produce boxes, 120 non-perishable food bags, and 300 healthy to-go lunches to attendees.

"I was thrilled to see so many residents of the Glen Burnie and surrounding communities enjoying themselves and getting essential health screenings and information at the Community Wellness Day this past Saturday," said Patrick Mutch, President and CEO of Chase Brexton Health Care. "We partnered with the UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center in coordinating the Wellness Day and by working together, we ensure that the health care needs of all patients are met because everybody's health matters."

Additional organizations who participated in the event include:

• Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System
• Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System
• Anne Arundel County Health Department
• Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Anne Arundel Dermatology
• Burgers and Bands
• Chase Brexton Social Work and Outreach
• Chase Brexton Every Meal Matters
• Face Work Events
• HealthCare Access Maryland
• Infinite Legacy
• LabCorp
• Merritt Clubs
• Pascal Women's Center
• Quest Diagnostics
• The Well
• UM BWMC Cardiac Cath Lab
• UM BWMC Car Seat Safety and Injury Prevention
• UM BWMC Clinical Education
• UM BWMC Community Health (blood pressure screenings)
• UM BWMC Diabetes
• UM BWMC Psychiatry
• UM BWMC Pulmonary
• UM BWMC Respiratory Therapy
• UM BWMC SAFE Program
• UM BWMC Vascular Center
• UM BWMC Volunteer Services
• UM BWMC Women's Health & HPV table
• Uneo (Prosper)
• WTMD

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.