Survey: Substance abuse, mental health are greatest unmet needs

HONESDALE — Residents of Pike and Wayne counties say they need more services for substance abuse and mental health problems, and for chronic tick-borne disease.
A four-month survey conducted by Wayne Memorial Hospital says local residents want more of the following:
Mental/behavioral health services
Substance abuse programs
Programs for grandparents raising grandchildren
Tick-borne disease specialists
Chronic disease specialists
The Community Health Needs Assessment, which also took in the Carbondale area in Lackawanna County, was conducted by HMS Associates, a consulting firm. Past studies have helped Wayne Memorial address unmet health care needs in the region, said David Hoff, CEO of Wayne Memorial Hospital/Health System.
"The overwhelming consensus was that the most significant health care needs were mental/behavioral health and substance abuse followed by access to specialists, prenatal education, programs for grandparents raising grandchildren, tick-borne illnesses and the fragility of the area’s primary care physician base due to the number of practitioners nearing or at retirement age," stated a press release from Wayne Memorial.

A seven-region survey

The study covered seven regions: Carbondale Area; Wayne County Central, North and South; and, Pike County East, South and West, encompassing a population of approximately 135,000 people. This approach has identified specific needs that in the past allowed for targeted interventions, such as new primary care services in Pike South, the Carbondale Area, Wayne Central and South communities.
A data analysis identified heart disease as the major cause of death and chronic disease, followed by malignant neoplasms (cancer) of all kinds, Alzheimer’s Disease, obesity, and diabetes.
A qualitative analysis that focused only on Wayne, Pike and Carbondale was gathered from in-person interviews with 40 local leaders, plus an internet survey to determine a community’s readiness to respond. The survey garnered 1,110 responses to 22 questions.
“The key leader interviews and the internet survey in particular offered insights that warrant consideration as significant needs for service development, with greatest emphasis on mental/behavioral health, substance abuse and specialty care providers," said Jack Dennis, manager of Grants and Development for Wayne Memorial Health System.

Past surveys result in more services

Wayne Memorial Hospital/Health System Board Chairman Dirk Mumford said the hospital appreciated “all those who participated in the survey and whose responses provided the data to make the survey both meaningful and reflective of the health needs of the greater community served by Wayne Memorial.”
Following a similar community assessment in 2013, the hospital system added or expanded primary care and outpatient services in Honesdale, Hamlin, Lords Valley and in the Vandling/Forest City area, and developed a Veterans Clinic in Wayne County. Also, Wayne Memorial Hospital achieved certification as a Primary Stroke Center and, most recently, opened a new cardiac catheterization laboratory with three interventional cardiologists.
“We are very much directed by the community we serve, and this needs assessment is our guide,” said CEO Hoff. “Earlier community assessments led us to enhance our dental and behavioral health services in Pike County with a new building and new staff. The data helped strengthen grant applications and recruitment efforts. We hope for similar outcomes with this 2016 study.
“We are listening to the community."
The study is available on the Wayne Memorial Hospital website at wmh.org.

Related story:

"Wayne Memorial wants you to take a survey": http://bit.ly/2aDdUSB.