Running head: TAKE HOLD HEALERS: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT

Take Hold Healers: Organizational Project

Megan Davis, Kyle Freund, Jodi Jakey, Nga Le, Kimberly McPike, and Ronda Mott
Ferris State University

Abstract
This paper outlines the efforts of a Kent County Based Volunteer Community Project known as
Take Hold Healers. The focus is on bringing improved health awareness to Kent County Biker
events through blood pressure/cholesterol screening, education, awareness, and referrals towards
existing local health care services.

Take Hold Healers: Organizational Project

An underserved group of aging independent people are facing the effects of a free spirit
attitude. Motorcycle enthusiasts, also known as bikers, live as fast as they ride. However, aging
bikers are slowing down due to years of unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. Living on the hog
does not have to be unhealthy. Many bikers have prided themselves on independent living
patterns with strong resistance towards change if it is perceived as not their own idea or choice.
Hamburgers to die for is a mentality that can be overcome by including healthy eating
alternatives and embracing the bikers independent vitality. Take Hold Healers is an initiative
focused on bringing healthy diet choices and early medical intervention.
Spectrum Health, St. Marys, and Metro Health Hospitals all have public cholesterol,
blood pressure, and cardiovascular health educational community projects, yet none of them
have targeted the 35 and older subculture of bikers at their own events in Kent County Michigan.
This aging subculture of West Michigan Bikers have had an increase in coronary heart disease
and myocardial infarction in coordination with long term digesting of high cholesterol/high fat

TAKE HOLD HEALERS: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT

diets (Iqbal et al., 2008). Our project will focus on bringing education to Kent County Biker
events on a monthly basis during West Michigans warmer riding months. Our efforts will work
with the existing healthcare resources as a way of awareness of their programs and motivation to
utilize them. The difference is that we are going into the heart of the biker community during
events to bring screening, education, awareness, and referrals right where and when they need it.

Take Hold Healers Mission

Community nursing education and screening initiative targeting Kent County Aging
Bikers to the benefits of a low cholesterol / low fat diet along with exercise and early medical
involvement to decrease risk of cardiovascular disease.
Philosophy
Take Hold Healers, in an effort to promote community wellness in underserved
populations, will attend several Grand Rapids biker events to target cardiovascular risk factors
including cholesterol management and healthy diet. Services will include: cholesterol screening,
dietary, and lifestyle education to promote cardiovascular health. Our efforts will value the
strengths of the biker brotherhood/sisterhood. This tight knit group holds strong to individualism
and freedom so Take Hold Healers will embrace this free spirit by sharing how healthy choices
give bikers long term freedoms including the ability to ride longer while maintaining strong
independent lives. Community resources that are already available will be a primary focus to
suggest Kent County Aging Bikers to seek health services from. During screening those with
elevated cholesterol or higher blood pressures will be referred to Spectrum Health, St Marys,

TAKE HOLD HEALERS: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT

and Metro Health services. Instead of the Screw you mentality of many bikers towards these
efforts, Take Hold Healers will redirect this attitude towards the cardiovascular disease itself
instead of the healthcare individuals dedicated towards fighting it. Fight this disease and let
those who can help you do it best by arming you with everything you need to Ride Cholesterol
Free!!!
Take Hold Healers will pull together a volunteer force of physicians, student nurses,
medical assistants, and medical students who are passionate about our mission and have
community project hours to fulfill. Tattoos are welcome but not necessary. All that are involved
must have an open attitude towards every individual we offer our services to including freedom
of speech with colorful vocabulary. We will be respectful to the choices each biker makes even
if it is resistant to our suggestions in hopes that our information offered in a respectful way may
at another time pave the road towards healthier living.
Organizational Goals and Objectives
Priority initial goals for the organization will include: establishing a partnership with a
local medical facility such as Spectrum Health to use their resources and equipment to keep costs
low, establish a source for funds such as donations, fundraisers and grants, and make connections
with local biker groups to begin event planning. Secondary goals will include, advertising
events, gathering supplies, hiring and training volunteer staff, and establish health goals for the
event clients. Priority goals for the biker clients will be to help the clients identify and reduce
their individual cardiovascular risk factors including dietary habits, cholesterol and blood
pressure levels.
Once goals are set, outcomes should be established to measure progress towards the
priority goals. The US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and

TAKE HOLD HEALERS: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT

Services Administration (2011) recommends using objectives that are Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Relevant and Time-framed (SMART) so that you will be able to clearly determine
whether the objectives have been met (p. 20). Goals and outcomes should also represent current
evidence, accepted standards of care set by national organizations, and benchmarks whenever
possible (Yoder-Wise, 2014, p 399).
Possible SMART objectives for the above priority organizational goals:

Take Hold Healers team will receive formal collaboration commitment from a local
medical facility by January 1, 2015.

Take Hold Healers will establish a method for funding the budget by February 1,
2015.

Take Hold Healers will establish at least four event dates for the 2015 riding season
with a commitment from each of the event locations.

Possible SMART objectives for the priority client goals:

Client will identify several of his or her potential or actual risk factors for
cardiovascular disease by the end of each event.

Client will lower total cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, and raise HDL cholesterol
by 20% or maintain healthy levels within 6 months following the 2013 ACC/AHA
guidelines (Stone et al, 2013).

Client will be able to review their food journal and identify at least three poor food
choices and three healthier food replacements by the end of six months.

These objectives assume that Take Hold Healers will be able to follow up with clients six
months after the initial event to monitor the overall effectiveness of the interventions.

TAKE HOLD HEALERS: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT

Permission to contact the clients and contact information will be collected at the events and a
data base will be kept to track progress.
Organizational Chart of Take Hold Healers
Take Hold Healers is a community clinic that focuses on the health wellness of Grand
Rapids biker population in the prevention of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction
associated with high cholesterol and high fat diets. This organization consists of six members in
the leadership roles and three volunteer members that will assist in the clinical, administrative,
and training process in increasing the awareness of cardiovascular risk factors including
cholesterol management and healthy diet choices, along with early medical intervention as
demonstrated in the organizational chart (Appendix A).

Job Descriptions
Our director, Kyle Freund will be responsible for overseeing and promoting the clinical
recruitment and evaluation process, while engaging the stake-holders interest in changing the
bikers mentality of Hamburgers to die for when overcoming unhealthy eating habits and
embracing a healthier lifestyle (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 2011). The assistant
director, Kimberly McPike will be assisting the director and enforcing the duties of the
administrative, clinical, training staff and volunteers to stay on tasks with organizational
activities. She will be expected to be available to fill any managerial or clinical roles as needed.
Megan Davis, our clinical manager will accountable for organizing and carrying out clinical
events and calculating estimate costs for clinical services and equipment. Clinical activities
involve screening of blood pressure and cholesterol blood draws (total, HDL, LDL, and
triglycerides). Volunteering physicians will be available for lab orders, referrals, and

TAKE HOLD HEALERS: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT

consultations if and when appropriate. First aid will be coordinated with EMS first responders
already on seen for events.
Another key role of the clinical manager is to make sure universal precautions are
practiced by staff in ensuring accurate results are obtained. Ronda Mott, the administrative
manager will be developing a timeline, creating a schedule of the events, including opening and
closing times, selecting dates, setting up clinic (games, entertainment, foods, signs and forms),
managing the budget, and direct/develop assignments for volunteers (Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service, 2011).
Safety and respect are of the utmost importance to Take Hold Healers staff and
volunteers. Ronda will be in communication with the Sergeant of Arms of each riding group
regarding their responsibility of security/crowd control. As invited guests, all Take Hold Healers
staff and volunteers safety will be the direct responsibility of the Sergeant of Arms present and
his affiliates. Any circumstance or situation deemed questionable to any staff or volunteer is to
be addressed immediately with Ronda. She in turn is to bring this to the Sergeants of Arms for
immediate resolution.
Ronda will also properly inform and interpret results to participants with follow-up
suggestions. Jodi Jakey, as the training manager is required to have a thorough understanding of
clinical governance and risk management, for she will be responsible for clinical and non-clinical
training, career and organizational development of staff and volunteers (Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service, 2011). Her role involves developing, managing, monitoring, and maintaining
evidence-based standard information and practices that will assist staff and volunteers in
providing quality, safe care. Nga Le will be hired on as a part-time clinical registered nurse, who
will assist in all aspects of the organization duties as needed, answering to Kyle, Kimberly,

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Megan, Ronda, and Jodi. Her responsibility can range from assisting Kyle with promoting
recruitment, training staff and volunteers, enforcing universal precautions, to assisting Ronda in
setting up the clinics.
Last, but most importantly to the organization are the volunteers. Volunteers are the heart
of the organization, they play a pivotal role in helping the organization meet the health and
wellness needs of the bikers communication and ensuring that services reflect high quality,
compassion and value. Their energy, spirit, empathetic talents are crucial in giving that special
touch of personal service to the individual bikers. Volunteers of all fields are welcome,
especially those with clinical experiences are highly appreciated, such as physicians, medical
students, medical assistants, RNs or nursing students. Volunteer applicants should be
dependable, responsible, friendly and willing to make a firm commitment of at least 60 hours of
volunteer service per year and adhere to the policies and procedures of the organization.
Participants will go through a general orientation process to be familiarized with assigned
responsibilities. They will receive specialized training or on-the-job training, along with the
mandatory in-service training that is done annually. Job assignments will depend on the
participants interest, availability, skills or experience.
Job Advertisement
The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing advertising starts at $425 for a 30 day
post and reaches 2.2 million healthcare professionals (Advertising Center, 2014). The Grand
Rapids Press, under Services - Basic Online Only Ad runs at $20 for 30 days and under
Education - Free Basic Online Only Ad is at no charge for 30 days (MLive, 2014). The
marketing departments of Spectrum Health, St Marys, Metro Health, and local colleges will be a

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source to advertise for our volunteer positions via their intranet and monthly newsletters through
volunteer advertisement as shown in appendix B.
Budget Proposal
The durable goods and supplies necessary to set up the clinic include a portable, 40 foot
(ft.) x 80 ft. large tent, 320 chairs for staff and patrons, 40 - 8 ft. banquet tables and tablecloths,
8 trash receptacles, 3 porta johns, 2 portable sinks, a public address (PA) and sound system, 2 flat
screen televisions (TVs) and digital video disc (DVD) players, dry ice, 10 large coolers,
miscellaneous office supplies (pens and pencils, felt tipped markers (large, small, different
colors), extension cords, stapler and extra staples, scotch, masking, and duct tape, poster board,
paper, emergency kit with first aid supplies, trash bags, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizers,
digital camera for the volunteer photographer, exhibitor and volunteer lists with phone numbers,
etc. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 2011). Medical supplies needed at least 16
disposable stethoscopes, 16 manual blood pressure cuffs including a varied selection of cuff
sizes, and 16 scales. Solicit donations from local businesses, hospitals and other healthcare
related organizations and institutions to provide food, healthy snacks, water and refreshments for
300 patrons over 2-3 hours. Recruit enough volunteers to assist with on-site registration, with
four to six volunteers for every 500 participants. Do not expect participants to wait a long time
in registration lines. Include a disclaimer waiver on the registration form. You may also want to
ask for names, age ranges or date of birth, ethnicity, etc.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses may include but are not limited to the following:

File the necessary paperwork to obtain a permit, if one is required. Some cities or
counties may charge a fee, which usually covers the cost of security. The cost of the

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permit could range from $0500. In some circumstances, the cost could be higher
depending on the entity issuing the permit.

Plan and secure special event liability insurance. It may be required before obtaining
a permit and or by the group or facility hosting the event. Note: Liability insurance
policies can range from $350 $2,000 depending on the type of coverage, number of
participants, etc. and whether the policy is issued to a profit or non-profit entity.

Food, healthy snacks, water and refreshments including cups, plates, napkins, forks,
spoons, knives, etc. (if not donated) for patrons.

Thirty t-shirts for planning committee and volunteers (cost varies depending on
quantity ordered approximately $300.00.)

Three donated door prizes (gift baskets, measuring spoons, sport/water bottles, fruits,
etc.)

Miscellaneous office expenses (pens, pencils, felt tipped markers (large, small,
different colors), extension cords, stapler and extra staples, scotch, masking, duct
tape, poster board, paper, hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, emergency kit with first aid
supplies, 8 trash receptacles, trash bags, paper towels, tissues, digital camera, 10
coolers, dry ice) totaling approximately $1000.00.

Medical supplies (if not donated from local hospitals) 16 stethoscopes, 16 manual
blood pressure cuffs including a varied selection of cuff sizes and 16 scales, 2000-10
ml of normal saline flushes, 2000 syringes, and 2000 blood draw needles.

Donated giveaway items, such as health magnets, sports/water bottles, pedometers

and fresh produce etc.

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Obtain pre-printed healthy living and lifestyle brochures, blood pressure monitoring
cards,

Brochures on healthy diets and good cholesterol, and recipes from American Heart
Association, American Diabetes Association, etc., enough for approximately 300
patrons.

A large commercial 40 ft. x 80 ft. tent, including 40 - 8 ft. banquet tables and 320
folding chairs. The average weekend fee is $1295.00.

Two flat screen TVs and DVD players, sound and PA system and 8 speakers renting
from the local rental company at a cost of $2000.00.

The purchase of two sets of different healthy lifestyle educational videos to play
during the event at the cost of $350.00.

The part-time registered nurse at the cost of $14,820.00 (Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service, 2011).
Position and Staffing

One part-time employees (FTE) position for a registered nurse general organizer and
facilitator. The organization would prefer a nurse with a Bachelor's degree in nursing and
experience in community nursing. Duties would include but are not limited to the following:
complete coordination of health fair, the ability to recruit and manage volunteers, solicitation,
organization and recruitment of local sponsorships for the mentioned needs.
The FTE position will begin in mid-April to develop plans, secure rental agreements,
local permits, contact and recruit organizational sponsors and confirm contributions, schedule
volunteers and staff, and finalize setup for the three planned health screening events for the June,
July and August dates. Two weeks will be used after the final event to re-contact patrons, answer

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questions, process health related follow-up and/or referrals and process any requests for
additional information. All RN duties would conceivably be complete by the first week of
September. This is a flexible position with varying hours during the workweek; however, on the
Saturday of the scheduled events, the hours may be extended to coordinate the success of the
event. The position is seasonal and benefits are not offered. There is no holiday or on call
commitment as each of the selected event dates will not be held on or require commitments on
any of the summer holidays. The position will be part- time and salary.
Volunteers would comprise the most cost effective staff. These volunteers would
preferably be students recruited from nursing, medical and medical assisting schools in the area,
local area high schools or community college students with health care career interest, and local
community volunteers. Take Hold Healers also have a sign-up website for volunteers to commit
to participate at the scheduled events throughout the season.
Hours of Operation
Take Hold Healers will have a cardiovascular education and awareness booth once a
month, from June to September at different motorcycle enthusiasts events in Kent County. June
to September is the busiest season for biker events, this being the best time to reach a large target
population at once. The education booth will be taking place at already planned and established
events. The booth will be at one event a month on a Saturday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Staff and
volunteers will need to be there from 2:00pm to 8:00pm for set up and cleanup.
Reimbursement
These blood pressure screening and cardiovascular health awareness events will not be
reimbursed services at this time. All expenses will be covered from donations and grants. The
event focus is to screen patrons with blood pressure checks, facilitate education and awareness of

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cardiovascular risks, promote a healthy lifestyle to a presumed high-risk group (bikers) and to
coordinate local referral to other health resources for patrons where possible (i.e., primary care
clinics, support organizations, etc.). The event value and impact will manifest in raising the
health awareness of a high risk group in the immediate community and connecting them with
community resources at their disposal. No fee is proposed for the services and education
provided.

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References
Iqbal, P., Anand, M., Ounpuu, P., Islam, M., Zhang, M., Rangarajan, M., & . . . Salim, Y. (2008).
American heart association: dietary patterns and the risk of acute myocardial infarction
in 52 countries. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.738716
MLive. (2014). Classifieds. In MLive Best Local. Retrieved from
www.mlive.com/onlinead/categories.html
Stone, N., Robinson, J., Lichtenstein, A.H., Merz, C.N., Blum, C.B...Wilson, P.W.. (2013).
ACC/AHA Guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic
cardiovascular risk in adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American
Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation 2014; 129: S1-S45 .
Available online at http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/129/25_suppl_2/S1.short?
rss=1&ssource=mfr
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service,. (2011). Health Fair Planning Guide. In Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension. Retrieved from fcs.tamu.edu/health/hfpg/Health-Fair-PlanningGuide-with-Appendix.pdf
The US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services
Administration. (2011). Developing and implementing a QI Plan.
http://www.hrsa.gov/quality/toolbox/methodology/developingandimplementingaqiplan/pa
rt4.html
Wolters Kluwer Health,. (2014). Create Meaningful Brand Experiences. In Advertising Center.
Retrieved from http://www.wkadcenter.com/advertising/
Yoder-Wise, P.S. (2014). Leading and managing in nursing (5th ed.). St Louis, MO: Elsevier
Mosby.

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Appendix A

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Appendix B

VOLUNTEERS

WANTED
Are you an energetic, passionate, and driven individual looking for a way to
increase the awareness of healthy living in our biker community?

Volunteers needed at Take Hold Healers main office, located at Metro

Health Hospital, 5900 Byron Center Ave SW Wyoming, MI 49419

What will you be doing?

Blood pressure checks
Blood
draws/cholesterol
screening
Providing cholesterol
education and referrals
Assisting in clerical
duties and clinical set
up
Medical experience
preferred

Please contact Ronda Mott

(616)252-7200
mottr3@ferris.edu