Community Health Needs Assessment 2013 | Page 90

DATE: CONTACT: April 11, 2013 Jim Huhn, Director – Marketing, Hannibal Regional Healthcare System [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEMo Regional Healthcare Providers Join Together to Improve Health Hannibal, MO -- Over the next three months hospitals, health departments, and other healthcare providers in Marion, Ralls, Pike, Lewis, Shelby, and Monroe counties will conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) so they can plan together to improve the health of our region. To assess the needs of the region a confidential survey has been developed and will be conducted by VVV Research & Development, Inc., an Olathe, KS based marketing, research, and consulting firm. The survey will be randomly distributed to households throughout the six county area in mid-April. The results of this assessment, along with secondary research highlighting publically available information regarding the health status of the region, will be explored at an upcoming Town Hall meeting on Thursday, June 20th at the Quality Inn in Hannibal from 5:30-7:00 p.m. All area residents are invited to participate in this gathering. Participants will engage in the process of prioritizing health issues which will then be used by the steering committee to identify the region’s top priorities. “We hope that the community will take advantage of this opportunity to provide input into the future of healthcare and services we offer. We value area residents’ insights. The feedback we receive from this assessment is essential in planning for the future health and wellness of our region,” commented Pranav Parikh, MD, a member of the Regional CHNA Steering Committee. The results of this research and community assessment will be then be used by regional health providers to develop a three-year strategy to address the top health challenges in the region. A regional steering committee has been formed to lead and monitor this process. Participants include: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dr. Pranav Parikh, Vice President - Quality and Medical Affairs, Hannibal Regional Hospital Ms. Judy Prater, Director of Nursing - Pike County Memorial Hospital Mr. Lynn Olson, President - Hannibal Regional Hospital Ms. Jean McBride, Administrator - Marion County Health Department Ms. Tanya Taylor, Administrator - Ralls County Health Department Ms. Audrey Gough, Administrator - Shelby County Health Department Ms. Diane Lay, Administrator - Lewis County Health Department Mr. Justin Selle, Administrator - Pike County Health Department Ms. Paula Delaney, Administrator - Monroe County Health Department Ms. Rhonda Stumbaugh, Nursing leader - Pike County Health Department 89