Speaking up, loud and clear, is what we’re looking for with the newly launched countywide health needs assessment. We want to know what you need…and we are now asking. It’s your turn to speak up.
That’s what all the fuss is about regarding this thing called a “health assessment.” So, why do we need a health assessment? That may be the critical question after reading last week’s Tribune article about a new health survey for Crawford County. Aside from the fact that a countywide health assessment is required under the newly enacted Affordable Care Act, a health assessment will shed some light on what we do well in our community and what we need to improve upon in the world of healthcare and public health.
The last countywide health assessment from 2004-2005 sought to determine our county’s health needs and resulted in two major changes. According to the Meadville Medical Center, the previous study revealed a lack in care and treatment options for cancer patients. In the past, residents would travel more than 100 miles and sometime farther to seek treatment and care. Why weren’t quality cancer treatments offered locally? Out of those loud and clear voices came the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute. The health assessment clearly indicated the need for improved access to and extended care for all types of cancer patients.
The same health assessment also clearly identified a lack of access to basic medical care for people of all ages. The assessment discovered that many people could not afford routine medical care such as annual check-ups or did not have a primary care physician due to a lack of health insurance. Out of those loud and clear voices came the birth of the Meadville Area Free Clinic. Thousands of people without health insurance or access to regular medical care now have it.
Our health providers are listening. We truly are…but you need to speak up to be heard and speak clearly about what you need. Those in the public health world as well as the medical community are taking your needs to heart in planning services and programs that meet those needs
Now is your chance to speak up, speak clearly, and speak loudly. The launch of the new Crawford County Health Needs Assessment Survey was created by a diverse group of health care providers and public health agencies from various county organizations including both county hospitals, the Crawford Health Improvement Coalition, Wesbury, Community Health Services, Allegheny College, Active Aging, and the United Way. As part of this assessment team, I sat through several meetings where we spent many hours pouring over potential survey questions, past assessments, and current services. We also considered input on service gaps as identified from each agency represented. Out of this information came the present health assessment – available in online, paper, or in-person formats. None of the survey methods collect names, addresses, or any other identifying information you; therefore, there will be no follow-up marketing calls, no fundraising, and no additional contact whatsoever. We are just looking for your needs, whatever they may be. We are looking for your loud voice!
The easiest way to complete the survey is through the online version found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/crawfordcountyhealth. It takes about 12 minutes to complete. For those who would rather answer the survey through the mail or speak directly to a member of the assessment data collection team may do so by calling one of the following individuals: Jessica Chase at 814-333-1762 or Max Lindquist at 814-333-1758. Again, no one is recording your name, address or phone number. If you request a hard-copy version of the survey, we will need your name and address to send you the survey, but please be aware that we are not tracking this information.
I am honored to be part of such a diverse group of researchers from across the county. Because of our diversity, we are also hoping to obtain diversity among our respondents. We are looking for people from all walks of life to complete this survey – from low-income to high-income, exercisers to couch potatoes, smokers to nonsmokers, drinkers to nondrinkers, young adults to senior citizens, and the list goes on. You may be the key that unlocks a door to a new service or offering that is missing in Crawford County. Our group is only about 20 people strong. Crawford County contains more than 88,500 residents. We need your voice…we need you to speak up, speak clearly, and speak loudly.
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