Now through July 28, the Hawaii Island Community Health Center invites all residents to participate in an islandwide community health needs survey.
The Community Needs Survey, conducted every three years, will help Hawaii Island Community Health Center identify the island’s priority health needs and concerns. With this needs assessment HICHC surveys the population living in the islandwide service area, both patients and nonpatients, regarding their experience accessing primary health care services and any barriers they may encounter.
In addition, the health center will evaluate available health care resources, population health data, key economic factors effecting the populations access to health care, and demographic factors impacting the population’s need and demand for health care services.
“Community participation will help Hawaii Island Community Health Center gain a better understanding of our future health care needs and identify gaps in health care service in rural communities around the island,” Hawaii Island Community Health Center CEO Richard Taaffe said in a statement.
The Community Needs Survey is a valuable tool whose success depends on broad participation to assist Hawaii Island Community Health Center with the development of programs, improvement in resources and provide tools and opportunities for greater health care access on Hawaii Island.
Three years ago, the Community Needs Survey identified transportation as a barrier for families accessing health care.
As a result, Hawaii Island Community Health Center launched School Based Health Centers providing health care on-site in local schools, thus eliminating the barrier for parents who work or have limited transportation.
The online survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and will remain open until Thursday, July 28.
Hawaii Island residents participating in the survey will be eligible for a chance to win a $50 gift card, with four $50 gift cards being awarded.
All survey responses are confidential and completely anonymous unless participants choose to share identifying information.
To take the survey, visit https://tinyurl.com/muwn7m67.
The Hawaii Island Community Health Center commenced operations in July 2022 with the merger of East Hawaii’s Bay Clinic and West Hawaii Community Health Center.
The newly formed organization with clinics in Hilo, Ka‘u, Keaau, Kailua-Kona, Kealakehe, Pahoa and Waikoloa.