OHRH begins Community Health Needs Assessment to help identify local health priorities and issues

February 24, 2022 | 12:07 am

Updated February 23, 2022 | 11:35 pm

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital has begun the 2021-2022 Community Health Needs Assessment for Daviess County, a study designed to identify the area’s top health priorities. On Monday, OHRH released a community survey that will measure public opinion about the county’s top health challenges and how to improve those areas. 

Surveys are completely anonymous and take approximately five minutes to complete. They can be found online here. Some of the questions include topics about access to healthcare services, health challenges for each household and the community at large, factors for a healthy community, substance abuse, and more.

Additional steps, including focus groups and the gathering of statistical data, will follow in the weeks ahead. 

“This assessment is invaluable to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital and to our community partners, because it will form the backbone of a 3-year plan that will specifically address the issues we uncover,” said Dr. Jim Tidwell, vice-president of population health for Owensboro Health. “Part of our mission is to improve the health of our local communities, and this assessment—including the public survey—will serve as our roadmap.”

The Affordable Care Act, passed by Congress in 2010, requires health systems to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years. The 2021-2022 study will be overseen by the OHRH Community Health Committee, which comprises representatives from Green River Area Development District, Green River Health Department, RiverValley Behavioral Health, Audubon Area Community Services, United Way of the Ohio Valley, Healthy Horizons and the City of Owensboro. 

“Healthcare is a team effort,” Tidwell said. “When we work together as a community, we can accomplish extraordinary things for the health of the people we serve.”

February 24, 2022 | 12:07 am

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