DEL NORTE—The Rio Grande Hospital is a 501(c)(3) organization and every three years has to reach out to the public for a health survey in order to keep their status as a non-profit organization. The survey is a county-wide effort to gain perspective on the health needs in the community.
During the Upper Rio Grande Economic Development (URGED) meeting held in Monte Vista on Oct. 9, URGED Director Bonnie Asplin explained the survey to the attending members stating that the survey would help determine health needs in the county and is part of a requirement that has to met by the hospital in order to maintain their 501-C3 status with the IRS.
“This is a short, six-minute survey that will determine health needs in and around Del Norte and help the hospital determine what they need to do to meet those needs. We encourage the general public and our members to take the time to complete the survey when it opens on Oct. 19,” stated Asplin.
The hospital launched the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) on Sept. 26 in a public meeting in Del Norte. During the meeting, Rio Grande Hospital CEO Arlene Harms explained the importance of the CHNA and what the hospital would do to help meet the needs of the surrounding community.
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.
“The CHNA is the ongoing process for our hospital to evaluate the health needs of the communities we serve, which then facilitates a prioritization of the needs and strategies to address them,” explained Asplin.
The hospital will have a follow-up meeting on Oct. 23 to review the results collected through the survey and invites the public to join and give feedback. The meeting will take place at the Knights of Columbus building at 509 Main Street in Del Norte at 6 p.m.
To participate in the survey, please visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNA-RGH on or after Oct. 19.
The hospital is also in the final stages of completing their remodel of the Del Norte clinic, emergency room, wound care clinic, physical therapy and administration building. There will be a grand opening ceremony for the community at the beginning of November. The hospital will also be hosting their annual trunk-or-treat event in the parking lot on Oct. 31 beginning at 4 p.m. For more details, please visit www.riograndehospital.org.