Palm Springs, CA
DAP Health has launched a new, ongoing preventive care campaign titled “A Checkup Is a Checkup,” aimed at normalizing routine health screenings and encouraging people to view preventive care as a standard, judgment-free part of staying healthy.
Preventive screenings are proven to save lives by detecting health issues early, when treatment is often more effective and less costly. Despite these benefits, fear, stigma, misinformation, and limited access continue to keep many individuals from seeking routine care. DAP Health’s campaign seeks to shift that narrative by making checkups feel familiar, approachable, and free of fear or stigma.
The campaign draws a comparison between everyday habits and health care, noting that people routinely check phone messages, steps, time, or the weather without hesitation. The message extends to physical, mental, and sexual health alike: a checkup should be treated as a normal check-in, no different from other daily routines.
“You shouldn’t have to feel anxious or embarrassed about taking care of your health,” said Dr. Jason Halperin, DAP Health Medical Director of Specialty Programs. “When we normalize preventive care and talk about it openly, people are more likely to get screened, ask questions, and stay engaged in their care.”
Campaign messaging highlights a range of screenings, including breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer; HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections; as well as depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Materials will appear across DAP Health’s 25 clinic locations throughout the Coachella Valley and along the San Diego coast.
As a government-funded community health center, DAP Health serves many patients who rely on Medi-Cal, are uninsured, or have previously faced barriers to care. Preventive services are often delayed in underserved communities, even though they play a critical role in improving long-term health outcomes. By increasing health literacy and reducing anxiety around screenings, the organization aims to help close those gaps.
“This campaign is about meeting people where they are,” Halperin said. “When patients feel informed, supported, and respected, preventive care becomes a natural part of life, not something to avoid.”
“A Checkup Is a Checkup” officially launched with an interview featuring Halperin through DAP Health’s new partnership with NBC Palm Springs. It marks the second initiative under that collaboration, following January’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month screening campaign. Both segments are available on the DAP Health digital hub at NBCPalmSprings.com/dap-health.
Upcoming segments include a March feature for National Colorectal Awareness Month with DAP Health Chief Medical Officer Joseph Aquilina, MD, MBA, and an April segment focused on Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs, an international foodie fundraiser that supports DAP Health’s HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention efforts.
More information about preventive care and other services is available at daphealth.org. New patients can schedule a checkup by selecting the “Become a patient” tab on the website, while existing patients may call their preferred DAP Health location.