The inaugural Women’s Health Expo at Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) received widespread praise and enthusiastic participation from the local community.
Held at the newly opened state-of-the-art Rehabilitation and Medical Office Building on March 2, 2024, the event marked an important milestone in DCMH’s commitment to the welfare of women.
The expo provided attendees the opportunity to experience a range of essential health checkups and services, free of charge.
Over three hours, more than 120 patients received various evaluations, including thyroid function tests, vitamin deficiency testing, rehabilitation evaluation, skin cancer screening, mental health evaluation, sleep evaluation, lipid panel and A1C testing. . These screenings were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County (Foundation), Selking International, Standard Fertilizer and Centra Credit Union.
Many attendees had the opportunity to schedule an appointment for a heart and/or lung scan at a reduced cost, thanks to funds distributed from the Heart and Lung Screening Fund created by the Foundation. These funds were used to help offset the cost of additional scans conducted after the incident.
At the expo, attendees can schedule Pap smears and mammograms and receive referrals to specialty services such as DCMH Sleep Clinic, DCMH Rehabilitation Services, DCMH Behavioral and Mental Health Services, Centerstone and Forefront Dermatology.
Liz McCoy, marketing and communications manager for DCMH, said, “The Women’s Health Expo celebrates women, women’s health and women’s history as a way to help support health care initiatives for women by offering free screenings. Coincides with the month.” “We plan to offer the Expo event each year in conjunction with our two other free screening events, Healthy Fair and Men’s Tailgate.”
In addition to the medical services offered, participants enjoyed a lively atmosphere filled with engaging activities, including nail painting by DCMH’s Spirit of Women, hair tinsel application by Jennifer Olley with The Farmhouse Salon, and Kaylin Comer with Kaylin’s Lashes & More. and permanent jewelry installations by Jordan. Einhaus with PermaLinux.
Attendees also had the opportunity to speak with DCMH department booths, interact with community partners, and take a guided tour of the new building.
Participants received an educational talk from Dr. Alexandria Marshall, DCMH foot and ankle surgeon, about choosing shoes for life.
Culminating in a themed brunch provided by DCMH’s diet team, with edible glitter and mocktails decorated with a festive balloon arch, the expo showcased DCMH’s commitment to wellness.
The success of the event was made possible by the dedication of more than 50 DCMH staff who volunteered their time and expertise to ensure a memorable and impactful experience for all attendees.
“We are proud to continue offering free and discounted screenings to our community through events like the Women’s Health Expo,” said Rex McKinney, CEO/President of DCMH. “We are meeting the needs of our community by making health care more accessible and removing barriers to quality care.”
For more information about DCMH’s future community events, please visit dcmh.net/events.