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SALT LAKE CITY — Intermountain Health is hosting free "ladies' night out" health events across seven hospitals to educate women about their health care needs through the various decades of their lives.
Women in the United States make approximately 80% of the health care decisions for their families yet often go without health care coverage themselves, according to the National Institutes of Health.
A number of things can pose barriers to women's health, including coverage, access and accessibility. Utah ranked 40th nationally in a scorecard by the Commonwealth Fund measuring insurance coverage, usual source of care, cost-related problems getting health care, and system capacity for reproductive health services.
The free events can serve as an opportunity for women to access health care on multiple levels while surrounded by community. Women will be able to meet and interact with women's health providers from various medical specialties including women and newborn care, behavioral health, mammography, nutrition, and pediatrics, as well as caregivers who specialize in women's sports medicine, physical therapy, urology and breast reconstruction.
"It's really important to have these events, that women realize that they're really important. I think women go through their entire life taking care of their kids and their husbands, and then they forget that they have to take care of themselves," said Dr. Kim McColloch, an OB-GYN. "And at some point, a gentle community reminder of the benefits of our health is really important."
The events promise a "fun atmosphere" and will feature interactive displays, health screening information and opportunities for women to hear from health care experts. There will also be food options from hospital chefs, free giveaways and prize drawings. Women will also have the opportunity to schedule mammograms or flu vaccines.
"The health care decisions women make are vitally important, not just for their own well-being, but also for the health of their families and communities. As we empower women with knowledge, resources, and support to make these decisions, it will help improve the public health outcomes for our communities," said Heather Wall, president of LDS Hospital.
The event can serve as an opportunity for women to find a health care provider they really like, added McColloch.
"It's great to have ladies' night out, where women are with other women, and they can start to talk about who they like as a doctor and what problems they're having that they might not talk about unless they had an event like this. Where they can get together and talk about their experiences and their health care providers and what they're talking about in those visits. I think that community event does make it accessible to talk about health care," said McColloch.
Creating a relationship with a health care provider and continual visits with them can provide an opportunity to check in on all aspects of health, including mental health. Frequent mental distress increased 29% from 19.4% from women ages 18-44 between 2020 and 2021, according to state data.
"We do a depression screen on all of our annual exams, which is a really good opportunity for people to realize that they're really struggling when they might not even really know," said McColloch.
The ladies' night out schedule is as follows:
- LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6-8 pm.
- Riverton Hospital, Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30-8:30 pm.
- Heber Valley Hospital, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6-8 pm.
- Intermountain Medical Center, Murray: Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6:30-8:30 pm.
- Alta View Hospital, Sandy: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6-8 pm.
- McKay-Dee Hospital, Ogden: Thursday, Oct. 10, 5:30-7:30 pm.
- Sanpete Valley Hospital, Mt. Pleasant: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 5-7 pm.
