Dallas County Health Needs Assessment

 In 2006, Dallas County Hospital helped to lead a project partially funded by the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation to determine the health needs of Dallas County residents.    The purpose of this study was to determine the health status and behaviors of the people of Dallas County through a systematic, data-driven approach.  The results of this study will allow organizations in Dallas County and the surrounding area to create plans of action to improve community health and wellness.  The community health assessment should be used by organizations to determine what services and education programs are needed in Dallas County.  By specifically identifying where to focus, organizations and programs will be able to make a noticeable impact on the health of Dallas County. 

PRC has identified that the community health assessment will serve as a tool toward reaching three basic goals: 

• To improve residents’ health status, increase their life spans, and elevate their overall quality of life.  A healthy community is not only one where its residents suffer little from physical and mental illness, but also one where its residents enjoy a high quality of life.

• To reduce the health disparities among residents.  By gathering demographic information along with health status and behavior data, it will be possible to identify population segments that are most at-risk for various disease and injuries.  Intervention plans aimed at targeting these individuals may then be developed to combat some of the socio-economic factors, which have historically had a negative impact on residents’ health.

• To increase accessibility to preventive services for all community residents.  More accessible preventive services will prove beneficial in accomplishing the first goal (improving health status, increasing life spans, and elevating the quality of life), as well as lowering the costs associated with caring for late-stage diseases resulting from a lack of preventive care.

To access the assessment data and summary presentations please go to PRCEasyView.com and type in the username dallas and the password health.  For further information please call 515-465-7619.