NEW: FRHS SEEKING DIRECTION THROUGH SURVEY
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
Freeman Regional Health Services wants to hear from you.
No, Freeman Regional Health Services needs to hear from you.
Leadership teams at the local health care facility are both inviting and urging those from across the area to respond to a survey that is part of the facility’s Community Health Needs Assessment — an every-three-year process required by the Affordable Care Act for all critical access hospitals.
The survey takes about 7 minutes to complete and is available through this link, under the “Campus News/News and Events” link at freemanregional.com or by using the QR code published here.
“It’s very important to us that we’re doing this assessment and we’re hearing from our community members,” said Courtney Unruh, CEO of Freeman Regional Health Services, a health care facility that opened in 1952 that today includes a hospital and nursing home, assisted living and clinics in Freeman, Bridgewater, Marion and Menno. “When we do these assessments, we’re really valuing what people have to say so we can put it into our strategic plan going forward.”
The survey is being facilitated with the help of District 3 Planning and Development and is part of a process that also included meetings with focus groups earlier this summer. All of this is being done without direct input, participation or feedback from FRHS employees and administration so those taking part feel more comfortable being honest.
“We always say we want to hear the good, bad and otherwise,” said Unruh. “That’s the data we want, and we want to take that data and respond to our community by plugging that into our strategic planning starting in 2023.”
The survey includes 58 questions ranging from the satisfaction or lack thereof of health services provided, the availability of education and information resources, other community support opportunities like access to wellness and exercise facilities and overall quality of life issues in the community.
An example of some of the goals previously set include making FRHS a desirable place to work, a desirable place to receive care and services, a place that offers a wide range of services that promote health and wellness, and a desirable place for community engagement.
How those goals will be adjusted or altered going forward will depend on the feedback from the public and the direction provided by District 3.
“I know it’s another survey and people don’t feel like they have time, but this is important,” said Unruh, who notes that response from the public has been slow since the survey was launched in July. “We’re not even statistically relevant right now.
“That’s why we want to hear from you,” said Unruh. “We want to hear from the community.”
Unruh said they hope to have the survey wrapped up sometime this month so District 3 can finalize its assessment.
“That’s when we’ll know what our steps will be, as well as look at strategies and goals for 2023 and beyond,” she said.
