2019 Community Health Needs Assessment Set to Begin

Over the next three (3) months, Decatur County Hospital (DCH) will be partnering with Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa (CHCSI) and Decatur County Public Health (DCPH), to complete the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The goal of this assessment is to understand progress in addressing community health needs identified in the 2016 CHNA report and to collect up-to-date community health perceptions.

To accomplish this task, a short online survey has been developed which may be accessed via the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DecaturCo_CHNA2019. All community residents, business leaders, and other stakeholders are encouraged to complete this survey by Thursday, February 28, 2019. Responses are anonymous.

“This work is key to determining the health direction for our county,” said Mike Johnston, Decatur County Hospital CEO. “We are pleased to be able to complete this assessment in collaboration with our local healthcare partners, Community Health Care Centers of Southern Iowa and the Decatur County Public Health Department, for the betterment of the citizens and community we are all honored to serve.” “It is our hope that all community residents and associated stakeholders will take full advantage of this opportunity to provide input into the future of healthcare delivery for Decatur County.”

All members of the community are invited to a Town Hall/ Community Forum to be held at the Leon Country Club from 5:30pm to 7:00pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. DCH will provide dinner. Please RSVP to Cheri Jensen at 641-446-2339 no later than Friday, March 8, 2019 if you plan to attend.

Vince Vandehaar, MBA of VVV Consultants, LLC (an independent research firm from Olathe, KS) has been retained to conduct this county-wide research. If you have any questions about the activities associated with the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment, please contact Decatur County Hospital Administration at 641- 446-2339.