Community outreach is the act of providing services and information to communities, especially those who might not otherwise have access to them. The goal is to build community engagement and improve the lives of community members. 

At Gove County Medical Center, a Community Outreach Committee was formed recently to ensure that health information and support services are offered to the community.  The first of these outreach events occurred during the Gove County Shootout on February 11th.  GCMC employees worked with Quinter High School to set up a booth at the basketball game where health information could be given out and to support the awareness of American Heart Month in February.  Employees performed free blood pressure checks and also became the patients as students who had recently been taught how to use a blood pressure cuff wanted use them on the GCMC staff members.  A similar event took place on February 25th at the Senior Citizen’s Center in Quinter, where the Bluestem Clinic Care Manager and Senior Life Solutions staff performed blood pressure checks and provided educational materials. 

The committee is also finalizing plans for a national speaker to speak at a school assembly for both Quinter and Wheatland-Grinnell Jr & Sr. High School students focusing on mental health and resilience There will also be an evening session for the community. GCMC is currently writing a grant to help cover expenses for this event. 

As this committee is in it’s infancy, they are excited about all of the future monthly events being planned.  GCMC will continue to keep the community updated through this monthly article in the Gove County Advocate, the GCMC Pulse Newsletter and social media posts.  We encourage the community to join with us as we try to make a healthier Gove County through learning, coping and empowerment.