Patient First‘s commitment to the community goes beyond providing convenient, cost-effective health care. Patient First also supports numerous organizations that make a positive impact in our local neighborhoods and across the mid-Atlantic.
See what Patient First is doing in the community.
For the very first time Patient First was excited to partner with St. Catherine's School for their annual Daisy Days spring carnival. With over 40 years of continued success and a favorable forecast, we were definitely in for a treat. Daisy Days was originally created to bring the community and alumni together, and that's exactly what they did. The Saturday festivities kicked off with multiple dance performances by K-4th graders. These performances definitely drew in the crowds. Once that concluded, the kids were free to roam about the campus and explore the games, activity stations, vendors and food trucks. Patient First was happy to host the M*A*S*H tent. Several students approached the tent asking to be wrapped in bandages and gauze and garnished with lots of fake blood.
Thanks to our wonderful event staff and an awesome group of volunteers, this event was very enjoyable for everyone. Patient First would like to thank the amazing folks at St. Catherine's for having us this year. We look forward to seeing you all next year!
The 2023 edition of the Woodbury Relays marked its 49th anniversary this year, and Patient First was part of the big day as an event sponsor. We have supported this fun, high profile event in the past, but things felt much bigger this year. More than 4,000 athletes from across New Jersey gathered, along with their families and friends, at Woodbury's Junior-Senior High School on April 22, 2023 for this year's event. Runners in South Jersey are always excited about the Relays event each year; and organizers have it running flawlessly, with lots of activity from start to finish. It has become the highlight of nearly every South Jersey runner's program schedule, since it is one of the most historic track meets in the tri-state area. It's a big deal; gold watches are even awarded to the winners!
We enjoyed being on site for this event, where we offered free blood pressure checks, and talked about our services with those who stopped by our tent. Our Woodbury and Cherry Hill, NJ centers in particular received big shout outs from the many happy patients who visited, and told us how much they appreciate all that the providers and medical staff in our centers do. It also was fun for us to receive acknowledgement and thanks from so many local folks for our sponsorship of the "Patient First Scholar Athlete of the Week" at Woodbury's high school-- the venue for this huge relay event.
Even though it was a bit windy, Mother Nature was kind to us and brought us a mild, warm weather event day, which made everyone very happy. We are excited to continue to follow the amazing athletes who participated in this event; and, we hope to return again next year.
Patient First was excited to team up with the city of Newport News for the second annual Outdoor Enthusiast event. After a very successful first time event in 2022, there was a lot of anticipation about what 2023 may bring. Held at Newport News Park, this showcased one of the area's many municipal parks. With live entertainment, fun activities and games, the day was an exciting celebration of the great outdoors. Canoeing and kayaking were available for free at the reservoir. There was also zip lining, an obstacle course, rock climbing and laser tag, all scattered throughout the park. Live entertainment included a DJ, a gator show and lumberjack show. The only thing missing was the sun! Unfortunately, the event was forced to end early due to inclement weather. However, we had lots of fun while it lasted!
Patient First would like to thank the city of Newport News for organizing such a great event. We look forward to joining you again next year!
Patient First was delighted to once again serve as a sponsor of the 2023 Fairfax County Earth Day event, organized by the esteemed Clean Fairfax Council. The theme of this year's annual Earth Day Fairfax was, "Healthy People, Healthy Planet".
This annual celebration of our planet's natural beauty and resources has continued to gain momentum each year, attracting a staggering attendance of over 10,000 passionate and environmentally-conscious residents. With more than 75 vendors, exhibitors, and delectable food trucks on site, the event was truly a feast for the senses.
Patient First is honored to have had the opportunity to participate in such a meaningful and impactful event, and eagerly looks forward to future collaborations in support of our community's shared commitment to sustainability and preservation.
We look forward to returning to Earth Day Fairfax next year!
Thank you to our amazing event staff!
As our event calendar returns to its familiar busy pace, and in recognition of Event Staff Appreciation Week, the Community Relations Department would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all our center staff, who've taken the time to help support our efforts!
We want you to know how much we value your contributions to making these events the successes that they are. By seeing and talking to everyone who stops by our tables, we hope you see the benefits of what you do long after they leave our care as patients, and recognize how appreciative they are of your work.
It takes special people to give of themselves to help others, and each and every one of you who've given up your time to help staff our participation at the dozens of festivals, family health nights, fun runs, and other events are very special to us. Thank you for your enthusiasm, and for being such great ambassadors for Patient First!
Without a doubt, every day is a good day to recognize and celebrate our veterans, as well as those who serve or are about to serve in our armed forces. A unique program-- "Operation Send A Vet," put together by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs ball club-- brought more than 2,000 veterans and their families together for the Pigs' home opener on April 4th. Patient First stepped up to the plate to participate in this unique celebration of our military for a second consecutive year, and we were so delighted to be part of the fun! We were present on-site with an information table, giving away items on the ballpark's concourse. In addition, our financial contribution enabled 100 veterans and their families to come out and enjoy the day, capped off by an IronPigs win!
We enjoyed so many conversations with both "old-timer" vets and new enlistees, while providing free blood pressure checks on-site, and distributing a variety of our give-away items. We even scored an opportunity for a ceremonial First Pitch, which was so much fun!
It is always nice to hear positive feedback from folks who have visited Patient First. People continue to be so happy to be able to walk into any of our centers without an appointment when they have an injury, or are feeling under the weather and need non-emergency medical attention.
This event was designed to thank our service men and women of all branches and status, by giving them an opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of a game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. This year's event was a home run, and Mother Nature brought us warm and sunny weather, making our experience all the more enjoyable!
Health and wellness were the order of the day, as more than 25,000 people filled the Baltimore Convention Center for the 14th annual B'More Healthy Expo. This was Patient First's first time participating in this massive gathering of health organizations and exhibitors, all gathered with the intent of promoting and aiding in a healthier lifestyle for those living in the greater Baltimore area.
Our table was placed directly in front of the main entrance, and immediately across from the area with the anchors, reporters, and meteorologists from Fox45, the television station which organizes the event every year. Those two things guaranteed us an enormous amount of foot traffic past our table! Our promotional items were flying out of our hands as quickly as we could unpack them, while every person who came by told us how much they appreciated what we do for the community.
From cooking exhibitions, dance and aerobic instruction demonstrations, and several other instructional progams showcased on three stages placed around the hall, there was literally something for everyone to experience and enjoy. This is an event we certainly will return to in 2024!
Patient First was delighted to once again be a proud sponsor and vendor at the highly anticipated George Mason University Health and Fitness Expo, taking place on Thursday, March 23. This year's expo was an exciting and engaging event, featuring a wide array of vendors, a cook-off, DJ with music, free smoothies, most importantly, free health screenings.
Attendees had the opportunity to receive blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar screenings, as well as HIV testing- all of which are crucial in promoting disease prevention and encouraging a healthier lifestyle. In addition to the screenings, the expo served as a platform for introducing George Mason University faculty, staff, and students to valuable resources within their community that can help them live a healthier life.
By showcasing the latest in health and fitness trends, and promoting wellness through interaction and engagement, the George University Health and Fitness Expo underscores Patient First's commitment to helping people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. We look forward to attending the George Mason University Health and Fitness Expo next year!
As we close out the month of March, also known as National Women's History Month, let's take time to recognize a woman who contributes to making the community a better place. Dr. Elizabeth Jenkins is a Colorado native and received her medical degree from the University of Colorado in 1996. She is board certified in family medicine and joined the Patient First team upon relocating to Virginia in 2002. Since joining the company, she has worked at multiple Patient First locations in the Richmond region. In addition to being a provider, she has also served as a trainer for new hires and a number of recertification courses. She has also taken the time to be interviewed by local media outlets, providing important information on topics to keep the community safe.
On Saturday, Dr. Jenkins volunteered her time to speak to over 100 girls at the Girls in Medicine Camp-In at the Science Museum of Virginia. Her topic on eye health was informative, relatable and interactive. She was able to keep her audience engaged with ease and the crowd appeared motivated. At the end of her presentation, many girls asked several questions about how to become a doctor. Dr. Jenkins' favorite thing about being a doctor is helping people and learning new things. A true measure of success is not always what you do for yourself, but the good you do for others. Please join me in saluting Dr. Beth Jenkins for all the good she does for our community!
We "got our Irish on" during Allentown's annual Irish Cultural Community Day event, presented by the Allentown St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, Inc.
Patient First has participated in this event many times over the years, and it has always attracted a great crowd, with lots of fun and spirited families, organizers and folks from all over the Lehigh Valley and beyond. This year was no exception. There were plenty of activities for families and children to enjoy all day.
The crowd for Community Day was enormous this year, and part of three days of Irish-related fun, including a Friday evening event, as well as the 64th Annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday.
The return of our complimentary blood pressure checks was well received, and we were delighted to provide many during this event. We are always so happy to work with this great group of organizers who always put together a well-run and well-attended event. We were stationed at a perfect location, too, which gave us a great interaction and many conversations with event participants. We also got to enjoy the very talented Irish dancers, bagpipes and other instrumentalists and vocalists that made for an awesome day!