SAFFORD — Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center is gathering as much information as it can to determine the community’s health needs.
The Community Health Survey is live online now, asking residents for input on a number of topics, including what is the top health issue in the Gila Valley, and what health services would residents like to see offered in the Gila Valley, among others.
To get even more data, the hospital conducted a pair of in-person focus groups Thursday, facilitated by Lauren Murrow of the firm Eide Bailly.
About 16 people attended the morning focus group, and offered their opinions on topics including:
- What do you like best about living in the community?
- What are your biggest concerns living in the community?
- What are the most serious health issues facing this community?
- What issues are facing the medically underserved/low income in the community?
- What is your vision for a healthy community?
- What are the most beneficial health resources or services for those in the community?
Substance use, affordable housing and child care costs were among the biggest concerns; health issues included access to healthy foods, ambulance service and social media; while issues affecting low income residents included funding cuts to the hospital and Medicaid, and lack of public transportation.
Positives included the community’s focus on family and education, support for each other in times of crisis, the number of social service organizations serving the Gila Valley, the large amount of volunteerism, and the hospital itself.
Focus group participants said their vision for a healthy community includes prioritizing health, more outdoor activities and access to aquatics year-round.
“All of these little anecdotal stories, stories of personal experience of people’s health care, for them or a family member, adds to the picture and helps us complete the picture” said Danny Smith, director of Marketing and Community Outreach for MGRMC.
The data from the focus groups and the online survey will be combined to issue the Community Needs Assessment, which will help determine hospital investment moving forward.
The 2022 Community Health Survey highlighted the need for more mental health services, which prompted MGRMC to hire additional mental health providers and recently purchase Brainsway Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation equipment for those dealing with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and addictions such as smoking.
