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   Part B. Community Assessment, Agenda Setting, and Choice ... >
      Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources >
         Section 7. Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys >
            Examples - Real world situational examples. >

Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys

  

Examples

 Contributed by Lindsay Morgeson

Example #1: Kewanna Healthcare Assessment
Contributed by Lindsay Morgeson

The Kewanna Healthcare Assessment was developed in May 2008 for the town council and citizens of Kewanna, Indiana, USA.  The town council had been researching possibilities of establishing a Rural Healthcare Clinic in this community for about a year and needed a way to assess the opinions and needs of the residents. Along with the town council, I have been working with the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering in Discovery Park of Purdue University to complete this project.

When I took on this project, the first thing that we thought of doing was finding out what the citizens felt was most appropriate and needed in their community.  I did some research and found other surveys and assessments that were related to health needs. After compiling a list of topics from these that I found to be most relevant to the community, I started developing questions to fit the Kewanna assessment.  The town council and I went through the questions and decided which would be most useful in the assessment.  Once the questions were selected, I developed the current document. 

The assessment was sent out to all citizens that lived within the zip code surrounding the area.  Included with the assessment was an informational page about the survey, a page to fill out if residents were interested in further information on the project, and an envelope with paid postage to return the assessment.  About 60% of the population responded.  I have been compiling the responses to display the community's view.  This will help us learn how the clinic will be supported financially, who is most likely to use the clinic, which hospitals (and possible clinic providers) are most trusted and used by the community, and what the overall feel of a clinic coming into town would be. 

This assessment will help the project in a variety of ways.  First, the answers will provide quantitative facts about how the community feels.  This is important when dealing with an incoming business and healthcare practice.  Next, it educates the community about what is or may be happening.  This way, they know about and understand the developing plans in their town.  And finally, the assesment is a great chance to reach out and spark interest.  On the additional interests page, many supplied their opinions or requested more information.  These responses will help establish the health clinic before it even opens. 

While I am still analyzing the responses, the overall view of the potential new clinic is positive and the assessment has been and will continue to be very beneficial.