ACTION Health in partnership with Geisinger Center for Health Research is conducting a Community Needs Assessment to help understand how individuals utilize community services, what community services are lacking and identify the area’s most prominent health problems.

The assessment (in survey form) was sent to over 10,000 randomly selected households across Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties last week. According to ACTION Health’s Executive Director Allison Clark, “This project’s success depends on the commitment of community members to promptly complete and promptly return their survey.” She continued, “Based on the responses, we’ll get a better understanding of the area’s health needs and issues.”

“The mission of ACTION Health is to provide outreach and education on unmet health needs in our community,” added Clark. “But we must be sure we truly know what the needs are, and so this survey will ensure that we are heading in the right direction.”

ACTION Health partners with and is sponsored by each of the area hospitals, including Berwick Hospital Center, Bloomsburg Hospital, Evangelical Community Hospital, Geisinger Health System, Shamokin Area Community Hospital and Sunbury Community Hospital. The data derived from this project will also be used by each of these hospitals to better understand and respond to area health needs.

Community members are asked to take the time to complete this survey. All responses are kept confidential. “We understand how valuable a person’s time is,” said Clark. “But by giving this time, area residents can make a great difference in the future of health and human services in our area.”

 For more information about the survey, please contact ACTION Health at (570) 275-9150 or call the Geisinger Center for Health Research at 1-866-219-5148, option 2.