Partners Announce Regional Health Assessment Plan, Ask for Community Feedback

Joplin, Mo. – A variety of organizations working across the spectrum of health in our community have come together to better understand the health status, behaviors and needs of the populations they serve. 

And now they need your help.

Under the authority of the local Ozarks Health Commission, this first-time collaboration of this size in the region spans four states—Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas—50 counties and four hospital systems. 

This massive effort will result in a Regional Health Assessment.

The working group aims to use this systematic, data-driven assessment to inform decisions and guide efforts to improve community health and wellness.

Participants include healthcare partners Freeman Health System, Burrell Behavioral Health, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, CoxHealth and Mercy; as well as public health partners the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Taney County Health Department, Polk County Health Department, Newton County Health Department, Jasper County Health Department and Joplin City Health Department.

The resulting Regional Health Assessment will allow decision-makers to have a more holistic and up-to-date picture with which to strategically address community health concerns.

In preparing for the Regional Health Assessment, organizations will be collecting data, as well as feedback and direction from partners and the public.

To that end, partners involved with this effort are asking for public feedback on their local healthcare needs and experiences in the below survey link. 

Questions are simple and are available in English and Spanish.

English version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Regional15
Spanish version: https://es.surveymonkey.com/s/RegSurveyHisp

Thank you for your help in making your community healthier! 

For more information, contact: David M. Smith, Freeman Health System Media Relations Coordinator at 417.347.4606, or Kathryn Wall, Public Health Information Administrator, Springfield-Greene County Health Department at (417) 874-1205.  

Freeman Health System – Celebrating 90 Years
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2014, Freeman earned 90 individual awards for medical excellence and safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman #1 Hospital in Southwest Missouri in 2014-15, and The Leapfrog Group gave Freeman the highest grade possible in the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo. #FreemanTurns90