Hi-Desert Medical Center Kicks off New Health Lecture Partnership with 'Healthcare Bingo'

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. – January 16, 2019 – Hi-Desert Medical Center launched its new partnership with Yucca Valley Senior Center with a unique seminar that combined a healthcare lecture with a family style bingo game. The event was the kick-off of a series of monthly health lectures the hospital will be presenting at the senior center in 2019.

“Bingo has become a go-to game for many seniors,” said Yucca Valley Senior Center Recreation Leader Nena McCullough. “Having Hi-Desert Medical Center incorporate its educational lectures into a family fun style of bingo format provides an entertaining means for education incorporated with increasing health benefits in older adults – not to mention the fun. We look forward to their ongoing monthly lectures at the Yucca Valley Senior Center.”

The presentation provided some practical health knowledge tips along with deeper dives into the topics of hepatitis C, which is of particular concern for those born between 1945 and 1965, as well as early heart attack care.

“I learned a lot about hepatitis C and who is affected by it,” said Donna Heck, one of the winners of the bingo game.

Participants were very enthusiastic about the edutainment format of the presentation. “Good game. Played well. It was a lot of fun and it made for an interesting presentation,” said Harlan Bransky.

“This was great because it engaged the people. And I think that once everyone tells everybody about it more people will come,” said Janet Gray.

“I think you remember more when you have to mark down the answers,” added Heck.

Chadwick Ricks, the Director of Emergency Services at Hi-Desert Medical Center, presented the program on hepatitis C and touched on the quality of local Emergency Room care. “People who live in the high desert don’t have to drive down the hill to receive quality, emergency room care. We share some of the same doctors as Desert Regional, so the quality of care doesn’t change. The only difference is for very serious trauma cases – Desert is our adult Trauma II center,” said Ricks.

In addition to Yucca Valley Senior Center, Hi-Desert Medical Center presents information seminars at the Helen Gray Education Center, located on the hospital campus, as well as the Center for Healthy Generations. In all, more than 36 presentations have been planned for 2019. The hospital also hosts monthly tours and support groups. For more information, please visit the Hi-Desert Medical Center classes and events section of the Desert Care Network website.