– Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) recently welcomed over 120 men to its annual Men’s Health Tailgate, a free community health screening event held Oct. 3 at the Rehabilitation & Medical Offices building. This year, DCMH expanded the number of appointments available, making more screenings accessible to the community than ever before.
Attendees received 13 different free screenings and assessments designed to provide a closer look at their overall health and identify potential concerns that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Screenings included:
· A1C and lipid panel testing to identify potential risks for diabetes and heart disease
· Complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel testing to assess overall health
· PSA testing to help identify possible signs of prostate cancer
· Thyroid screening
· Skin cancer assessments
· Mental health evaluations
· Additional preventive health screenings and assessments
Participants also completed eligibility assessments to determine whether additional heart, lung, or colorectal screenings may be appropriate. Those who may benefit from additional testing received information about recommended next steps.
Of the 120+ attendees, a high percentage of participants were identified as needing some form of follow-up based on their screenings or assessments, demonstrating the value of making preventive care accessible to the community.
“Events like Men’s Health Tailgate give us an opportunity to reach people who may not otherwise take the time to get these screenings,” said Dr. Isaiah Steffen. “Being able to offer so many important health checks at no cost can help identify concerns earlier and give people the information they need to take action. We’re grateful to be able to provide this opportunity to our community.”
The event’s expanded appointment availability helped DCMH reach more community members this year, while online registration continued to be a convenient option for participants. Ninety percent of attendees registered online, demonstrating the continued value of providing an easy, accessible way to reserve an appointment.
The screenings were made possible through the expertise and dedication of DCMH physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and staff who volunteered their time throughout the event, helped guide attendees through their appointments, kept the morning moving, and created a welcoming experience for every participant. Additional DCMH departments and community partners were also on-site to provide information about health and wellness resources available throughout the year.
Thanks to the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County, generous community donors, PowerStream Fiber Energized by Decatur County REMC, and Forvis Mazars, all screenings were provided free of charge. Their support helps DCMH remove financial barriers and make preventive health services more accessible to members of the community.
“We continue to see how much our community values having access to these screenings,” said Liz McCoy, Manager of Marketing & Communications. “Expanding our appointments this year allowed us to open the door to even more people, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who made that possible, from our volunteers and staff to the Hospital Foundation and the donors who support this event.”
For more information about DCMH’s community events, visit dcmh.net/events or follow Decatur County Memorial Hospital on social media.
