— Wake County Human Services has partnered with local hospitals and other members of the community in an attempt to determine residents’ greatest health concerns.
Every three years, health care leaders in Wake County ask residents to help them track the ever-changing health needs in their communities through the
“[It helps] to inform how we design programs and provide funding and the services that we as a county support,” said Sue Lynn Ledford, director of Wake County Public Health.
Ledford says the process for the 2019 assessment is underway and involves an online survey that asks for responses on a range of issues including access to care and quality of life for seniors.
The , which also asks residents to rank their health priorities, should take about 15 minutes to complete, Ledford said.
“I think people will appreciate the fact that they are helping to guide the direction of the county, because these surveys are taken very seriously,” she said.
Three years ago, the survey helped identify four top priorities: Access to care, access to health insurance, transportation needs and substance abuse issues. Those challenges still persist across the state and the country.
Ledford said one issue is at the root of many other health concerns.
“We hear a lot about housing. People cannot be healthy unless the social needs are met,” she said.
The online survey must be completed by Aug. 31.