Public feedback wanted for community health needs assessment

Input is being sought from residents for the Jasper County Community Health Needs Assessment. In a partnership between MercyOne Newton Medical Center and Jasper County Public Health, the health assessment seeks to understand the healthcare needs of those in the county.

“It is really important we get partners from all different services throughout our community so we can get a lot of points of view, whether it be mental health, dental, WIC, young or old, or whoever might need, what our priorities should be in our community,” Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor said.

A brief survey has been developed for community members to answer to find out what needs are in the county. VVV Consultants LLC, an independent health care consulting firm from Olathe, Kan., was retained to conduct county-wide research.

“Right now our goals are mental health, substance abuse are the top two that we have been working on,” Pryor said. “The Community Health Assessment really directs us for the next three years as long as we are in alignment with the hospital as to what we are going to work on in our community and our work groups. It really goes back to ... the shift of local public health service funds and focusing on holistic needs of community health, population health.”

The survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNA2022_MercyOneNewtonIA or on MercyOne Newton’s website along with the Jasper County Health Department’s website and on the partners’ social media pages. It takes approximately five to 10 minutes to complete the survey and all responses are confidential.

Those looking to participate are encouraged to complete the survey by March 3. A virtual town hall meeting will also take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 31. To take part in the town hall, e-mail MercyOne Newton at pr@skiffmed.com.

“I think it is really, really important, our community health assessment,” Jasper County Board of Health Chair Margot Voshell said. “It will be really interesting to see what this survey holds since there have been so many changes to our lives, so much more awareness of public health and the importance of it the last couple of years.”

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com