A community health survey was sent to thousands of southcentral Kentuckians last week with the goal of getting to the root of health issues affecting the region.
The relatively short survey – which was mailed to 60,000 residents in Commonwealth Health Corp.’s Wellness News and appears on the Daily News’ website and will be sent elsewhere – asks questions such as: “Which of these health issues is the most important for you and your family?”
Answers include obesity, drug abuse and addiction, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, none of these, or other” and “What has been helpful in keeping your family healthy? Support of family members; Support of friends; Wellness program at work; My doctor/health care provider; Support group/Health education class; Being physically active; Quitting tobacco use; Healthy eating; or Controlling stress.”
The information gathered from the survey will be used as part of a comprehensive health plan for the region being developed by the Barren River Community Health Planning Council. The council has been meeting since September and so far has established what members perceive to be the top health issues in the region, including obesity, drug abuse and addiction, diabetes, lung cancer and heart disease.
Now it’s residents’ turn to see if they agree with those concerns and to help identify any gaps in services to help manage those issues.
“This is something we’ve done for a long time, only not in such a structured way,” said Doris Thomas, vice president of CHC, the parent company of The Medical Center.
Performing a community needs assessment is a formal requirement for nonprofit hospitals under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Thomas said. The assessment must be done at least every three years.
Thomas said organizers of the survey this year thought it would be a good idea to partner with the Barren River District Health Department in doing the survey through the council.
“We are very focused on improving the health of residents,” Thomas said. “The council allows us to work collaboratively with other key stakeholders throughout the region.
“The survey is good way to start pulling in some good feedback to bring to council. Maybe it will help validate some of the key areas that we have already identified.”
Dennis Chaney, executive director of the health department, said he hopes the survey helps identify gaps in residents’ access to health care resources in order to proactively address the five health issues already identified, or maybe others that weren’t identified.
“Then I hope we can write grants and the hospitals will work more closely together to align their resources to address those gaps,” Chaney said.
Chaney said they hope to get responses from about 10 percent of the population throughout the region. For Warren County, that would be more than 11,000 people, or 28,000 for the region.
“I don’t know how realistic that is, but we want to try,” he said.
In addition to the surveys, some area residents in positions such as a community, church or education leader, patient or caregiver, might be asked to participate in one-on-one interviews with district health department staff. The interviews will help reveal personal experiences people have had in accessing health care here.
“If an individual gets a call ... I hope they will see the importance and make the time to spend some time with interviewers,” Chaney said.
