Special family events drew people back to Su Clinica following a decline in patient visits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October, the Harlingen, Texas health center offered healthy treats and encouragement for children to come dressed in costumes during a weekend close to Halloween. Entire families, many of whom were tired of feeling cooped up, took advantage of the opportunity to have some fun and connect with the clinic. “Kids hadn’t been out much,” said Dr. Elena Marin, Chief Executive Officer.
The Halloween bash and a subsequent Spring into Summer event helped staff to develop a list of patients who were behind in vaccinations.
Increasing HPV vaccination rates among girls and women was one of the successes. Blanca Cavazos, Su Clinica’s Women’s Health Center Manager, said the events gave center staff an opportunity to catch up on cervical cancer screenings as well. “Most of the women we saw had not had a cervical cancer screening in three-to-five years,” she said.
Cervical cancer rates are higher in the area, which is close to the border with Mexico, than elsewhere in Texas. Su Clinica has a longstanding relationship with the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas and provides treatment of early cases of cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccination push is one of several efforts that promotes women’s health. Su Clinica also has an extensive midwife service that offers one-on-one relationships with expectant mothers. The midwives work with patients through the course of the pregnancy and accompany them when they go to a hospital to help with delivery. This service, which has been available for years, is popular and helps to draw new patients. “It was a huge attraction for our community,” Cavazos said.