Perspectives Winter/Spring-2017

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 53 Pop tab collection box According to the Healthy Families Florida and Chil- dren’s Home Society of Florida St. Johns Biennial Service Review (2016), the average household income in the northern region of the county is $84,137, but only $48,999 in the southern part. More specifically, the Hastings area has a median household income of $25,000 to $26,000 (Saint Johns County Department of Health, 2014). The Saint Johns County Department of Health cites the southwest region, which is the Hastings area, as underserved. This explains why the 32145 ZIP code is federally designated as a medical shortage area (Saint Johns County Department of Health, 2014). As a way to aid in abating this discrepancy, the NSU physician assistant class of 2017 student government collaborated with the Saint Johns County Department of Health to hold an inaugural health fair focusing on family health to address current medical issues as well as preventive medicine. The event was a medical health fair known as Community FOCUS Hastings, where the acronym FOCUS carried the meaning of Family Oriented Care for the Underserved. Through community collaborations, the PA Program was directed to a group of Hastings-area businesses and civic organizations that called themselves Team Up Hastings. This group sponsored an annual back-to- school bash to provide underserved children with free school supplies. The NSU PA Program partnered with Team Up Hastings to provide a home medical mission, providing medical screenings and services. On August 6, 2016, more than 45 community partners, several silent donors, and more than 125 volunteers came together to distribute 434 back-to-school kits to deserving children ranging from prekindergarten to high school. During the following weeks leading up to September 12, approximately 50 additional kits were distributed to deserving children. The group also distributed more than 800 new pairs of socks and an equal number of new underwear to the children during the event. The group donated new under- wear and socks to the South Woods Elementary School to distribute throughout the year as needed as well. Additionally, the group performed 28 school physicals and 30 dental exams, while giving 22 vaccinations and donating 21 units of blood. Similarly, they performed more than 30 hearing and vision exams, resulting in 2 vouchers for free glasses given to participants in need courtesy of the Hastings Rotary Club. The group also conducted a number of rapid HIV tests during the event. Finally, there was an increased amount of foot traffic recorded through the Hastings Public Library—the event location—with more than 1,869 people traveling through the library. The event also afforded the venue a valuable opportunity to educate the community on health issues and disease prevention and begin survey- ing community members in preparation for a commu- nity health assessment. The event’s FOCUS was to provide back-to-school supplies to the children and begin to bring health equity to the Hastings area. What was achieved turned out to be a community working as a team, donating time, talent, and gifts to give back to the community. n REFERENCES: County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. (2016). Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program. In Florida. Retrieved from countyhealthrankings.org/app/florida/2011/rankings/st-johns/county/factors/overall/snapshot. Healthy Families Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida. (2016). St. Johns Biennial Service Review 2013-2015. Author. Saint Johns County Health Leadership Council. (2014, October). St. Johns County 2014 Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. Retrieved from stjohns.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/community-health-planning-and-statistics /community-health-assessments/_documents/sjc_2014_health_needs_assessment.pdf. First-year physician assistant students Anna Pfaff, left, and Matthew Collins