The ETSU Health Johnson City Community Health Center’s (JCCHC) annual Community Health Fair is set to return this Saturday – promising food, fun and free health checks.

And with cold and flu season just around the corner, the event will also feature an opportunity for attendees to receive their flu shots, in addition to blood pressure checks, free personal care items and connections with community health resources.

“The Community Health Fair is one of my favorite events of the year and is always a fun time for guests and providers alike,” said Vanessa Smith, practice administrator at the JCCHC. “This year we are excited to be able to expand the number of guest services, which for the first time will include a team of licensed hairdressers to provide free haircuts throughout the event.”

The event will be held at the center, located at 2151 Century Lane in Johnson City, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. It is free and open to the public and will even feature a kids’ zone for family fun.

The JCCHC provides evidence-based care for patients seeking primary care, prenatal care and other needs for various population groups in the community. It is one of the few nurse-managed community health centers in the nation to be designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center, a prestigious marker that means the facility meets a range of nationally accepted standards.

An unwavering commitment to caring for the people of this region and beyond is one of the many reasons ETSU is the flagship institution of Appalachia.

“As health care providers, it is critical that we find ways to make health care approachable and fun for patients,” said Smith. “Health goes beyond your regular check-ups – it starts with preventative care and establishing good, healthy habits that will stick with patients for the rest of their lives.

“The Community Health Fair not only offers us as providers an opportunity to remove some of those barriers to care for people, it also offers us a chance to connect with our patients in a more relaxed, informal setting,” Smith added.

Other resources available at the health fair include:

- Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council

- Appalachian Highlands Care Navigators

- Area Agencies on Aging and Disability

- Branch House

- Ballad Health Trauma Services

- Johnson City Housing Authority

- Frontier Health

- Washington County Health Department

- More

The Johnson City Community Health Center is part of the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing’s network of nurse-managed health centers. For more information on the JCCHC, visit https://bit.ly/3YFNyKQ.

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