RGH conducting health assessment beginning in October 

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RIO GRANDE COUNTY – Rio Grande Hospital will be conducting its health assessment in October. This gives health officials in Rio Grande County the opportunity to gauge how to best serve the community and the best way to offer health and wellness to all in need. 

The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is an ongoing process in which Rio Grande Hospital (RGH) evaluates the health needs of the community and develops strategies to address them. RGH must complete this every three years (along with other non-profit hospital organizations) to help identify community health needs. CHNA is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirement.  

The first meeting will review previous CHNA and review how the community has benefited from it. The survey will also be released to help RGH determine its challenges and opportunities. The survey (available on October 10) will help RGH analyze and develop the focus of the following community health improvement plan. A QR code will be released at the beginning of October bringing participants to the CHNA. 

The second meeting will review the survey. RGH will have focus group sessions with facilitators, community members, and partners; key information based on our survey findings will help assess community needs. At the third and final meeting, the hospital will share the implementation strategy. 

The dates are Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12. Every meeting is on a Thursday at the Rio Grande Wellness Center, 310D County Road 14, Del Norte. There is a complimentary meal at 5:30 p.m., and the session begins at 6 p.m.  

“Feedback from our community members received through the survey is vital in helping us improve. We ask that you please commit to attending all three meetings,” said RGH Development and Communications Officer Eva Timberlake.