Doctors Medical Center of Modesto has teamed up with nearly three-dozen representatives from several community organizations to organize and launch the Stanislaus County Community Health Assessment 2008. The assessment will be conducted through a collaborative effort of the Stanislaus County MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) Stakeholders.
“The Community Health Assessment will allow us to capture data on the health of Stanislaus County residents that has previously been difficult to obtain,” said Carin Sarkis, director of physician relations at Doctors Medical Center. “These surveys present a dual opportunity for our residents to provide their opinions and voice their needs regarding health care access in our local communities – and the ability for Doctors Medical Center and other local organizations to gain an accurate picture of the health status of our County residents, and more importantly, make improvements where needed.”
Laura Long, project coordinator for the Community Health Assessment, notes that this is the largest and most comprehensive local assessment of our community’s health that has ever been undertaken.
“The leading factor that has helped this effort become reality is the sheer strength in numbers of the project stakeholders and community partnerships,” Long said.
The Community Health Assessment Steering Committee comprised of local hospitals, county agencies, and health plans, worked together to develop a survey to collect information on 50 indicators of social, economic, health and behavioral quality of life. The data will be published in a comprehensive health report to help organizations in Stanislaus County develop action plans to address critical health issues facing the County.
The survey team, who recently underwent training on survey distribution and collection, will begin conducting the surveys through the month of July. Team members include representatives from several local organizations that have committed to help conduct the face-to-face survey throughout the County. The survey takes approximately five to seven minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish. In addition to the distribution and collection through the survey team, people that have not already been asked but would like to participate in the Community Health Assessment 2008 can complete a survey at their local Stanislaus County Library. To find a library near you, visit www.stanislauslibrary.org.
Doctors Medical Center of Modesto, part of Tenet California, is a 465-bed acute care hospital located at 1441 Florida Ave. in Modesto. DMC offers a wide range of services, including the cardiology, neurology, emergency and trauma services, women and children’s services, orthopedics, medical/surgical, behavioral health, oncology, and critical/intensive care. To learn more about Doctors Medical Center, or to receive a referral to one of our 550 affiliated physicians, visit www.dmc-modesto.com.