RG Hospital's Community Health Needs Assessment launch is big success

DEL NORTE — It was a full house Monday, September 26th as Rio Grande Hospital (RGH) kicked off their Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) at the Knights of Columbus in Del Norte.

The CHNA is required of tax-exempt hospitals as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It is an ongoing process for the hospital to evaluate the health needs of the communities it serves. This allows them to facilitate the priority of needs then and strategize to address them.

RGH’s CEO Arlene Harms led the presentation, in collaboration with Director Emily Brown, MPH, CPH of Roi Grande County Public Health and Chief Clinical Officer Victoria Romero, LPC, LAC from San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group as well as other staff from the hospital.

Everyone shared the communities’ statistics and benefits based on their focus. Harms spoke about the importance of the CHNA and hearing the communities’ needs so we can together come up with solutions. This process allows everyone to share their needs and voice any issues regarding healthcare. Harms welcomes the community to come to their next meeting to review the survey results on October 23, at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 509 Pine St. in Del Norte.

Caption: Arlene Harms speaks to the community./Courtesy photo