HAMILTON, Mont. — Bitterroot Health will send out health surveys to residents in Ravalli County to identify health service needs in the community.
The project is administered by the Montana Office of Rural Health and was funded through the Montana Health Research Education Foundation.
The surveys will be sent out to a random sample of homes and will analyze health needs, use of local health care services and overall community health.
Bitterroot Health released the following information:
Some community members in Ravalli County and surrounding areas will soon be receiving a survey in their mailbox. This survey will be sent to a random sample of homes and will help Bitterroot Health identify health services needed in the community. This information will be used for strategic planning, grant applications, new programs, and by community groups interested in addressing health issues.
This project, administered by the Montana Office of Rural Health and funded in part through the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation (MHREF) Flex Grant, will assist the hospital in an analysis of local community health needs, use of local healthcare services and overall community health. This process was developed to maintain quality healthcare to serve the continuing and future needs of the community.
“This survey bears immense importance for all of us as residents of Ravalli County. It serves as a critical tool for understanding your health needs and concerns, enabling us to craft strategies aimed at fulfilling those needs. Past participants in this survey have significantly contributed to the introduction of new services in our community, such as the recently opened Neurology Clinic, the Oncology & Infusion Center, and the eagerly anticipated Dialysis services coming in late 2024. Likewise, those taking part in the survey now are instrumental in shaping the future of healthcare in our community,” said John Bishop, CEO of Bitterroot Health.
The community health needs assessment process promotes healthcare as a local affair. Citizens of rural counties can take responsibility for the health of their community by completing the survey they receive in their mailbox. Most communities face many complex issues in addressing the health and wellness of their community, but fortunately, by engaging in this survey, Ravalli County can help in the survival of their rural health services.
Another goal of this initiative is to ensure that healthcare dollars remain within the local community. While most healthcare needs can be met locally, rural residents often travel to large medical centers for their care, resulting in money being spent on healthcare and other purchases outside of the local community. This has the effect of draining millions of dollars from the local economy in a typical rural community. By strengthening the connection between the community and healthcare providers, this revenue can be retained locally.
Some of the Bitterroot Health services currently include:
Primary Care & Family Medicine Women’s Health Emergency Department Urgent Care Rehabilitation (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Stroke & Cardiac Rehabilitation, and more) Specialty Services like: o Dermatology o Gastroenterology o Neurology o Neurosurgery o Orthopedics & Sports Medicine o Pain Management o Urology
For a full list of services please visit: bitterroothealth.org/services
“We are pleased to be able to bring some of the best community health resources to Ravalli County. The goal of this initiative is to assist forward-thinking rural hospitals and communities in aligning their resources, to address their present and future needs in the best way possible,” said Natalie Claiborne, Assistant Director, Montana Office of Rural Health.
For more information, please contact Amy Royer with the Montana Office of Rural Health: (406) 994-5627.