Hancock Regional Hospital - Heartbeats Health Festival

Overview

Heartbeats Health Festival began in 1983 in response to a statewide health initiative aimed at offering low-cost and no-cost health screenings to members of the community. The Heartbeats Festival has become a “healthy tradition” in the community, completing its 30th consecutive year in 2013. Many participants return year after year to monitor their health and identify potential health problems.

Impact

In 2013, approximately 1,000 individuals participated in the festival. The hospital and other community organizations offered a number of free screenings such as blood pressure measurement, pulmonary function testing, body composition screening, and hearing and vision tests. Free oral cancer checks and low-cost bone density scans were added this year. Other tests such as blood chemistry profile, prostate-specific antigen, and cardiac screening tests were available for a reduced fee. Thirty-eight health agencies from the surrounding communities participated in this year’s event. The hospital processed more than 1,700 laboratory tests; more than 100 of the hospital’s associates and volunteers participated to ensure the event’s success.

Challenges/success factors

The hospital is seeing more participants with high-deductible insurance plans that attend the festival for the lower-cost blood work. Many participants have stated that Heartbeats Health Festival is where they obtain the annual lab work requested by their physicians. More younger, under/uninsured individuals are also attending the festival, although the event primarily draws an older population.

Future direction/sustainability

One goal of event coordinators is to be able to measure outcomes. The festival has a very high return rate of attendee evaluations, and most participants do report sharing results with their physicians. The hospital is interested to see how health care reform’s effect on insurance coverage may in turn influence individuals’ interest in free and low-cost screenings.

Advice to others

This program crosses multiple departments and requires the involvement and buy-in from many staff members. Physician support is needed for referral.

Contact: Linda Garrity, RN
Community Education Coordinator
Telephone: 317-468-4383
E-mail: lgarrity@hrtc.net