SALT LAKE CITY — Intermountain Health will host free “Ladies’ Night Out” wellness events at seven hospitals to raise awareness about the health care needs of women at different times in their lives.
According to the National Institutes of Health, women in the United States make about 80 percent of their families’ health care decisions but often lack health insurance of their own.
A variety of factors can be barriers to women’s health, including insurance coverage, access and availability. Utah ranked 40th nationally on the Commonwealth Fund’s scorecard, which measures insurance coverage, usual source of care, cost-related issues in obtaining care and system capacity for reproductive health services.
The free event will be an opportunity for women to receive health care on multiple levels while being surrounded by community. Women will be able to meet and interact with women’s health providers from a variety of medical specialties, including feminine and newborn care, behavioral health, mammography, nutrition and pediatrics, as well as caregivers specializing in women’s sports medicine, physical therapy, urology and breast reconstruction.
“It’s really important to have these events and for women to realize that they really do matter. I think women spend their whole lives taking care of their kids and their husbands and forget that they also have to take care of themselves,” says obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Kim McColloch, “and at some point it’s really important for the community to have a gentle reminder of the benefits of good health.”
The event promises a “fun atmosphere” and will feature interactive exhibits, health screening information and opportunities for women to hear from medical experts. There will also be food provided by hospital chefs, free giveaways and raffles for prizes. Women will also be able to schedule mammograms and flu vaccinations.
“The health care decisions that women make are critical not only to their own health, but to the health of their families and communities,” said Heather Wall, M.D., president of LDS Hospital. “Equipping women with the knowledge, resources and support to make these decisions leads to better public health outcomes in our communities.”
The event could be an opportunity for women to find a provider they really like, McColloch added.
“It’s great to have a ladies’ night where women can get together and talk about their favorite doctors, issues they’re having that they might not have talked about otherwise. Women can come together and talk about their experiences, their providers, things they talked about in appointments, etc. I think community events definitely provide an opportunity to talk about health care,” McColloch said.
Building relationships with health care providers and ongoing visits give you the opportunity to check in on all aspects of your health, including your mental health. From 2020 to 2021, frequent mental distress among women ages 18-44 increased by 19.4% to 29%, according to state data.
“We screen for depression at annual checkups, which is a great way to find out if a patient is really struggling and may not even know it,” McColloch says.
The Ladies Night Out schedule is as follows:
LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City: Tuesday, September 24, 6-8pm. Riverton Hospital, Thursday, September 26, 6:30-8:30pm. Heber Valley Hospital, Wednesday, October 2, 6-8pm. Intermountain Medical Center, Murray: Tuesday, October 8, 6:30-8:30pm. Alta View Hospital, Sandy: Wednesday, October 9, 6-8pm. McKay Dee Hospital, Ogden: Thursday, October 10, 5:30-7:30pm. Sanpete Valley Hospital, Mount Pleasant: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 5-7 p.m.
