[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ater this month, Seton Medical Center Hays in Kyle will be ground zero for an area-wide, one day event that offers free medical care for children and adults of all ages.

Seton Hays will host the annual Medical Mission at Home event, which will be held Jan. 28, said Dr. Fausto Meza, an internist and vice president of medical affairs at Seton Hays.

The event is free and open to all Hays County residents of all ages. Additionally, no health insurance is required.

Volunteers at the 2015 Medical Mission at Home in Hutto checks vitals of eventgoers. (photo courtesy of Seton Hays)

Meza said the “basic medical care for children and adults” will be available on a “first-come first-served basis” until the end of the event.

This year’s event will mark the third Medical Mission at Home, with the most recent held in Hutto in June 2016.

At that event, health care providers across all departments donated their time to the members of the community that may not have regular access to quality healthcare.

According to Seton’s website, the event is a medical mission.

A volunteer at the 2015 Medical Mission at Home in Hutto checks a visitor’s eyesight. (photo courtesy of Seton Hays)

“By joining with area community partners and businesses to host a local medical mission, Seton hopes to meet people where they are for a day of health and healing,” according to the Seton website.

Although the event only lasts one day, Meza said that Seton encourages all Hays County residents who need basic medical services to attend. The event will also shuttle patrons from two elementary schools to the vent.

According to the website, the event will feature doctors and services from across the medical spectrum. Those include prescription services, vision screening for children, dental care, behavioral health, spiritual care, foot care and lab services.

The event is “about more than one day of care,” since the hospital doctors and staff stand by with local resources for people to use to find follow up care for any medical issues they may have, Meza said.

While he added there is only so much they can do in one day, he hopes the additional resources helps connect people who are struggling with health insurance to get access to the proper healthcare.

“Connecting them (people) to the healthcare system is important,” Meza said.

Meza also referenced a May 2016 Seton Hays Medical Health assessment that pinpointed three particular health needs in Hays County. 

According to the assessment, diabetes, mental health and resources for Alzheimer’s and Dementia were identified as the top three health concerns for Hays County residents.

Meza said he couldn’t speak to the future of holding similar medical events offering free services to the community more often than once a year.

“This is what we are here for,” Meza said.