With their favorite teddies in tow, children headed to LifeWorks Family Fun Day hosted by La Porte Hospital and La Porte Physician Network to learn about healthy habits and meet the providers at the LifeWorks Building in Michigan City. The event brought the community together to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to provide an insight into the services offered at the campus, all while having good family fun.
“We wanted to welcome the community so individuals can come into a healthcare facility and feel comfortable,” said Ashley Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer of La Porte Hospital. “We have started some new services here at LifeWorks building in Michigan City including primary and pediatric care, and we’ve expanded our women’s services with obstetrics and a midwife.”
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The highlight of the event was the Teddy Bear Clinic. Each participating child had the opportunity to bring their favorite bear from home or receive one at the event. Children took their bears to each office inside LifeWorks to be “treated.” LifeWorks professionals provided bandages for injuries, checked their blood pressure, examined their eyes, weighed and measured their bears, gave them X-rays, and administered vaccinations. Childhood development specialists also were on scene to check teddy’s growth and development and answer any questions parents have about childhood development phases.
“My bear got a bandage, I checked his heart, and he got an X-ray!” beamed John Behr Smith, age 7 from Westville.
The LifeWorks campus is a comprehensive medical campus offering CareExpress urgent care, primary care, paediatrics, lab, diagnostic imaging, cardiology, wellness and rehabilitation, women’s care, and ophthalmology.
Most importantly, the families were provided an opportunity to connect with the staff of La Porte Hospital and to learn healthy habits.
“Before you pick a doctor or choose a healthcare provider, you want to know them, you want to meet them, and you want to see what they’re all about,” said Stacey Kellogg, regional manager of community relations for La Porte Hospital. “This is a great opportunity for the community to come out and meet primary care providers or paediatricians, especially if they are looking for a new provider..”
The event also offered services for the adults, including free blood pressure and diabetes screenings. “We are a multi-specialty clinic,” said Scott Gogulski, D.O, a new Family Medicine Physician with La Porte Physician Network. “There is a need for providers in this community, and La Porte Hospital can fill that need. We are really accessible with a great facility and a lot to offer.”
Dr. Gogulski is accepting new patients; those interested can call the office at (219) 877-3841.
The event also included fun extras such as an inflatable bounce house, a rock-climbing wall, South Shore Oven Works Food Truck pizzas, and Child Safety DNA Kits provided by Michigan City Police Department.
“We are working together with La Porte Hospital to help to protect the kids,” said Sergeant Chris Yagelski of the Michigan City Police Department. Yagelski provided Child Safety DNA Kits to families at no charge. “It is really a great event today, and I’m so glad that they’re doing this for the community.”
For more information on the services offered at La Porte Physician Network, please visit their website!
