Courtesy of the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, Trigg County’s Hospital Board of Trustees spent Thursday evening taking in its Community Health Needs Assessment for the 2023-25 biennium — absorbing key data points about local citizens and their medical points.
Conducted by Melody Nall and Mercedes Fraser with the University of Kentucky, Nall noted the collection of this data went rather smoothly through a wide range of community resources and Hospital Liaison and Compliance Officer Jodi Wilson.
An online and written survey was distributed to many, and Nall said several were returned.
Of those 200-plus surveys, 10 specific main health challenges were determined from greatest to least, and included:
*high blood pressure
*overweight standards and obesity
*arthritis/joint pains
*diabetes
*tobacco use/vaping
*mental health
*asthma
*cancer
*respiratory/lung diseases
*heart disease and stroke
Nall added that both primary and secondary health data were collected for this assessment.
According to Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center data from 2021, a secondary source, 24% of Trigg Countians are smokers, 39% of its adults are obese, 16% of its residents are “excessive drinkers,” and 33% are physically inactive — all of which are at or extremely close to state averages.
Furthermore, there’s one dentist in the county per 7,390 residents, and one mental health provider per 4,930 residents.
Focus groups in Trigg County, Nall said, proved pivotal.
According to Nall, focus group responses varied greatly for Trigg County, and included concerns like “lack of early childhood interventions,” “lack of pediatric providers,” “food insecurities,” “a lack of understanding insurance policies and their coverage,” “diabetes,” “obesity,” “substance abuse,” “physical inactivity in youth and adults,” “physical fitness opportunities,” “senior citizens with unmet needs,” and so much more.
As such, the Community Steering Committee suggested Trigg’s health professionals in this 2023-25 window should focus and really address concerns on obesity, mental health, substance abuses, financial insecurities and instabilities, changing the culture of “being healthy,” the marketing of hospital services, food deserts, a need for an interagency council, and improved health transportation such as PACS.
Nall said mental health especially needed attention, and is rapidly on the rise statewide.
The report was unanimously approved for further consideration.
