Forum highlights local healthcare concerns

Hospital president urges residents to return surveys

Prince Frederick, MD (Oct. 16, 2007) - Eager to gather feedback that would help them develop new programs and services, local healthcare leaders met with area residents at a recent forum at the College of Southern Maryland.

Much of what they heard was consistent with earlier findings - residents are most concerned about access to care. Some are worried because they don't have insurance but others are troubled that not enough providers are being recruited to meet the demands of our fast-growing community.

The forum, sponsored by the Community Health Improvement Roundtable, was part of an ongoing project to measure the healthcare needs of local residents - a vital step to planning what services will be needed in the future. The roundtable, spearheaded by Calvert Memorial Hospital, represents a cross-section of local health organizations, schools and churches.

The panelists for the event were CMH President and CEO Jim Xinis, Calvert County Health Officer Dr. David Rogers and Dr. John Barth of the Calvert Internal Medicine Group. The moderator was CSM Associate Professor Jim Fehr. Area health agencies were represented, as well.

"Listening activities like the forum," said Xinis, "are key to understanding the health of our community."

He added, "There is a lot of important health information that cannot be collected through public health reporting."

Xinis said this is why the roundtable distributed a countywide survey to gather firsthand information from local residents. Over 1,200 surveys have already been returned but local agencies are making special efforts to reach at-risk populations.

"We want to hear what your major health concerns are," said Xinis. The multiple-choice survey is available online at www.calverthospital.org and at 18 locations throughout the county, including the hospital, its satellites and the medical office building. Residents can also pick up a copy at the courthouse, health department, social services, public libraries, senior centers, Calvert Marine Museum and College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick campus.

The survey results will be compiled with data collected for the 2007 Calvert County Community Health Needs Assessment Project. Preliminary findings were presented at the recent forum.

Locally, 99.8 percent of children are immunized before kindergarten. This is above the state average. The county also exceeds the state average in oral health for third graders who were screened. Overall, the county has fewer county residents with poor health than other jurisdictions across the state.

However, the project revealed some areas that need attention. For instance, there is a shortage of healthcare providers - particularly pediatric dentists. The lack of transportation keeps some from getting the care they need. The statistics show a rising number of Lyme cases. And 10 percent of citizens between ages 19 - 64 have no health insurance.

Additionally, the study found that three zip codes have two-thirds of the births to teen-age mothers. A sudden increase in the number of mothers on medical assistance was also noted in the last year. And there was a dramatic increase in the number of children in public schools diagnosed with autism.

"Each of these issues may have multiple factors influencing it," said CMH Community Wellness Director Margaret Fowler. "The roundtable intends to delve more deeply into each issue to determine what action is needed."

"Your input (through the surveys) will help us to identify," she added, "the best areas of focus."

Panelists (l-r) CMH President and CEO Jim Xinis, Calvert County Health Officer Dr. David Rogers and Dr. John Barth of the Calvert Internal Medicine Group answer questions at the recent community health forum.

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