Men’s Health Event at Ford Field Scores a Touchdown for Preventive Care
Julie Bitely
| 3 min read
Do you have a man in your life who refuses to see their primary care physician for regular preventive care? An upcoming event at Ford Field could be just what the doctor ordered. The seventh annual Men’s Health Event is put on by the Michigan Institute of Urology Men’s Health Foundation. This year’s free event takes place Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Men and their families are invited to take part in the day, which offers free haircuts and lunch, as well as the opportunity to kick a field goal. More importantly, a variety of health screenings worth more than $1,900 will be provided by local health care providers, including screens for prostate cancer, testosterone, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, uric acid and liver function tests. Participants don’t need to have health insurance to be screened and results will be mailed to them within seven to 10 days after the event. Strolling health care experts will be available for men with questions about their individual health concerns and additional screening will be available for dental health, vision, hearing, skin cancer checks, mental health and HIV. On-site counselors are available for any men who test positive for HIV or mental health issues. The idea behind the event is to reach men who either don’t have insurance or who balk at the idea of a traditional care setting. Identifying health conditions such as prostate cancer early offers men better treatment options and hope for recovery. “We know that men don’t get screened as often as women do for health issues,” said Karen Gilcher, MIU’s Clinical Cancer Care Coordinator and a registered nurse. She said while women often continue routine doctor visits after high school for their gynecological or maternal health needs, men often don’t perceive the same need to see their doctor on a regular basis. Of past event attendees, Gilcher said 37 percent reported they don’t get an annual physical. “They don’t go back in until they’re presented with a symptom that they can’t ignore anymore,” she said. Participants will get a wristband with an ID number that follows them throughout the day. MIU collects data that isn’t connected to individual attendees to get a better overall understanding of the health of the men in the city of Detroit. Gilcher said the hope is that eventually the composite data from many years’ worth of events can be used to find links and trends to drive systemic change in local health care systems to address men’s unique needs. “Men are important to the family,” Gilcher said. “We want to keep them healthy.” Along with the screenings and on-field perks for men, there will be lots of inflatable activities and running and passing drills to participate in. Individual and couples’ yoga, self-defense and martial arts classes will also be offered throughout the day. Gilcher said the event is made possible thanks to the help and support of more than 150 volunteers. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is sending about 20 volunteers to assist. If you’re attending the Men’s Health Event, enter Ford Field through gate G and plan on event parking of $4. Register for the event here. If you’ve been before, share your experience in the comments. If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
- Men's Health Checkup Checklist
- Prostate Cancer Screenings: Who Really Needs Them
- 5 Simple Ways Preventive Care Can Save You - Both Physically and Financially
Courtesy photos
