Project Summary
2014 Community Benefit Award
Fulfilling a need to offer free and low cost screenings and low cost blood tests to patients was essential. Sanford Tracy Medical Center of Tracy, Sanford Westbrook Medical Center, Westbrook and Murray County Medical Center of Slayton joined forces forming a collaborative effort called “Shetek Medical Services Health & Fitness Fair”. Now in its 12th year, this annual event offers a showcase of health events providing: free and low cost screenings, low cost blood tests, 5K Fun Run/Walk and Kids Race, educational seminars and booths offering various health care services and on-site breakfast.
Narrative
It is with pride that I nominate Shetek Medical Servicesto receive
Minnesota Hospital Association’s 2014Community Benefit Award (small hospital)
Sanford Tracy Medical Center (STMC), Sanford Westbrook Medical Center and Murray County Medical Center (MCMC) are three small rural health care facilities and Critical Access Hospitals (CAH’s) located in southwest Minnesota covering Lyon, Cottonwood, Murray and Redwood counties. STMC, SWMC, MCMC are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) having shortages of primary medical care. All four counties are well below the state median income: (
After determining there was a need to provide free and low cost services to a large patient base, the three facilities joined forces forming a collaborative called “Shetek Medical Services” adding “Health & Fitness Fair” to its title making it easily identifiable. This entity was aptly named in part because of the agreed upon centralized location where the health and fitness fair was to take place: End-O-Line Park in Currie, MN, and because of its close proximity to Lake Shetek, the largest lake in southwest Minnesota.
Shetek Medical Services Health & Fitness Fair now in its 12th year is an annual event heldthe third Saturday of July at End-O-Line Park in Currie. This event offers an in depth assortment of health services and activities to include free and low cost screenings, low cost blood tests, mammograms, 5K Fun Run/Walk and Kids Race, educational seminars and booths offering various health care services. External health related vendors are invited to participatecreating a diverse array of servicespromoting the importance of maintaining good health.Approximately 500 participants also enjoy the opportunity to enter drawings to win prizes and free giveaways including a girls and boys bike.
While many free and low cost screenings and activities are offered every year, Shetek Medical Services Health & Fitness Fair has evolvedto include a more diverse demographic. In addition to providing services to our aging population, it was determined there was a need to increase awareness and offer healthy lifestyle options to a more expansive population. Our service areas include a large percentage ofadults and children of Hmong ethnicity and there was also a need to reach out to a younger population. Kids’ activities, yoga and zumba demonstrations and traditional Hmong dancing have been added to venue.
Hosting the health and fitness fair requires much preparation and is largely dependent on ninety (90) staff volunteers between the three facilities. Ensuring our continued success requires additional resources including community organizations and the staff at End-O-Linepark. On event day, the Tracy, Westbrook and Slayton Lions Clubs offer shuttle service and assist vendors and attendees with transportation. Kiwanis Clubs from our three communities serve a pancake breakfast and students from school organizations rotateeach year to assist with after-event clean up.
Our success is two-fold providing a needed service while benefiting our communities, parks, private camp grounds, resorts and businesseswith the influx of people attending the health and fitness fair and spending the weekend in our communities.