Rio Grande Hospital receives record breaking feedback

Rio Grande Hospital staff Candace Allen and Greg Porter hear concerns and solutions from community members./Courtesy photo

DEL NORTE – Recently Rio Grande Hospital (RGH) in collaboration with Public Health and Behavioral Health held their second Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) meeting with the community. 

CHNA is an effort to identify and prioritize a community’s health needs by collecting and analyzing data related to the health status of the community and gathering input from community members related to what they believe are the most pressing health needs of the community.

RGH’s Medical Director Dr. Heidi Helgeson greeted the community with the results of the survey that had been collected for the last several weeks. The survey received a record number of recipients, which is a proof of the support the hospital has from the San Luis Valley and surrounding area.

Some of the top concerns shared from the community were substance abuse, obesity, diabetes, and mental health. The attendees were divided into three focus groups each collaborating on the various community health needs. They brainstormed and discussed possible solutions to the health needs of the community.

The groups discussed stigmas, barriers, transportation, among other things. Each focus group came up with an assortment of possible solutions to help the needs.

The next meeting will be November 9 where the results and plan will be published. For more information, Visit Rio Grande Hospital’s website at riograndehospital.org for more information.