Men's Health a Priority at SDFHC

Santa Clarita, Calif., June 6, 2008 – National Men's Health Week is June 9-15, and Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers, Inc. (SDFHC) reminds the community that we offer targeted health care services for men, including diabetes treatment, preventative health care treatment for heart disease and stroke, and counseling/support for smoking cessation.

Some of the most common health problems among men are: diabetes, prostate and colorectal cancer as well as lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Certain preventative measures, such as maintaining a healthy weight, lowering cholesterol and fat intake, not smoking, and getting regular exercise can help to keep such problems at bay. Regular medical check-ups are also important. Men are half as likely to visit a doctor for a check-up as women are, and there are more than 7 million American men who haven’t seen a doctor in over 10 years. Research has shown that most life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, can be treated or cured if they’re caught early.

SDFHC offers a range of services for all patients, and specific health care services from which male patients can benefit. For instance, one-third of men with the most common form of diabetes don't know they have it, and many are unaware of the disease until they develop related complications. SDFHC follows the chronic care management philosophy for diabetes treatment; this modelencourages patients to play a central role in managing their health to help them set reachable goals and manage their health.

National Men’s Health Week (www.menshealthweek.org) is sponsored by the Men's Health Network, a non-profit educational organization comprised of physicians, researchers, public health workers, individuals, and other health professionals. The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

SDFHC operates three health centers in the Santa Clarita Valley—Canyon Country Health Center, Val Verde Health Center and Newhall Health Center—as well as outreach sites at College of the Canyons and California Institute of the Arts. SDFHC offers a full range of health care services—physicals, immunizations and vaccines, screenings and diagnostic tests, well baby care, and family planning—to those who may not seek health care elsewhere. Patients pay based on their income. This past year, SDFHC provided service for 8,000 patient visits.

SDFHC was established in 1980 and named for long-time Val Verde resident and minister, the late Reverend Samuel Dixon. A not-for-profit community health center, SDFHC serves the greater Santa Clarita Valley, and is governed by a twenty-member board of directors, all of whom are Santa Clarita residents. The mission of SDFHC is to enhance wellness by providing quality primary health care services and health education to unserved and underserved residents, with a special emphasis on serving the uninsured. Easily accessible services are available for the entire family in both English and Spanish. Medi-Cal, Blue Cross and Healthy Families are all accepted, and a sliding fee scale is offered, keeping health care affordable for all. Services are available at the Val Verde Health Center (661-257-4008), the Canyon Country Health Center (661-424-1220) and the Newhall Health Center (661-291-1777).

SDFHC receives United Way funding and is supported by countless individuals as well as corporate sponsors who help make affordable health care possible. Tax-deductible contributions are welcome.