Immediate (September 23, 2004)

Mike Noble

Fletcher Allen Public Relations

(802) 847-2886

Fletcher Allen Participates in "Community Spotlight" Forum on Health and Social Service Needs

On September 23rd, Fletcher Allen representatives led by President and Chief Executive Officer Melinda Estes, M.D.,  joined with the representatives of the United Way of Chittenden County and the Champlain Initiative to present "Community Spotlight," a community forum to gather public feedback about health and social service needs in our community.

At the forum, the organizations presented results of the 2004 Community Assessment, a survey of community and health care needs in Chittenden County and in Fletcher Allen's service area. The survey was conducted this past spring and summer. More than 1,500 individuals completed the assessment in a variety of ways including on-line, through telephone and printed surveys, and key leadership interviews.

Forum participants discussed the survey results and participated in small group discussions about: Best Things About Our Community; Top Health and Wellness Concerns; Top Community Concerns; and Emerging Issues.  The results of this forum and additional forums to be held throughout the county this fall will be incorporated in the assessment's final report, to be issued later this year.

United Way, in partnership with Fletcher Allen, has conducted community needs assessments every five years since 1989. In 2003, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 53, legislation that requires hospitals to conduct community needs assessments and annual hospital reports. The assessment and the hospital report will be posted on Fletcher Allen's Web site as of January 1.

Information gathered from the 2004 survey will be incorporated into Fletcher Allen's strategic planning efforts and will help guide the development of health care programs and services at Fletcher Allen and in the community.

Additional forums will be held at other times and locations throughout the fall. For more information about those meetings, contact Joey Larson at 847-4866.

For additional information about the Community Spotlight forums and the survey, click here.