Community Health Assessment News Release

Washburn County Health Department                                 Spooner Health System

222 Oak Street, Spooner, WI 54801                                                    819 Ash Street, Spooner, WI 54801

715-635-4400                                                                                                                                    715-635-2111

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:    Jerri Pederson, Washburn County Health Officer     715-635-4400

 

2015 Community Health Assessment Completed

 

SPOONER, Wis., November 6, 2015—Washburn County Health Department in partnership with Spooner Health System (SHS) released the 2015 Community Health Assessment. The county-wide health assessment is required by State Statute every five years since 1995. SHS must complete a community health needs assessment every three years in compliance with IRS requirements. The top health issues are identified and a plan is developed to address issues as a community.

 

The Steering Committee of collaborative agencies and the public survey (mailed to a random stratified sample and electronically available) were part of the assessment. Current data and statistics were reviewed and programming was identified and evaluated.

 

The Top Health Priorities for Washburn County were identified as:

1. Substance Abuse, Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
2. Mental Health Barriers
3. Access to Health Care
4. Prevention of Chronic Disease
5. Nutrition, Obesity and Lack of Physical Activity

 

“Substance Abuse ties into all of the above health priorities. This stresses all the community resources from law enforcement, the jail, child protective services, health care systems and the schools. Both the Survey and the Steering Committee (having reviewed the data) agreed this to be the number one health concern in Washburn County,” states Jerri Pederson Washburn County Health Officer.

 

In early 2016, goals for each of the health priorities will be developed. Current programming will be evaluated and a five-year plan will be developed to address the health issues.

 

“It was great to partner with Public Health this year on our Community Health Needs Assessment,” says Mike Schafer, SHS CEO. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Public Health and the entire community assessment Steering Committee to assess the health-related needs of our community and create an action plan to better meet those needs.”

 

The Community Health Assessment including the survey findings are available on both the Spooner Health System website at www.spoonerhealthsystem.com and Washburn County Website at www.co.washburn.wi.us.