By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Stormont Vail Health officials are overseeing a 2024 Community Health Needs Survey in Junction City. Participants in a Live Well Geary County meeting Wednesday were asked to respond to questions and disseminate the survey in the community with it ending April 30.
There will be a town hall meeting May 22 at the JC Naz Church, where feedback will be taken and plans and goals prioritized. There will also be a kickoff event next Monday, March 18th at 2 p.m. at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library.
During the Live Well Geary County meeting on Wednesday participants participated in the first roundtable discussion for the survey and responded to survey questions. On root causes of Geary County's overall health concerns, the transient population and the constant need to educate people on priority programs , poverty, education skills training on topics such as preparation of meals and reading food labels, mental health issues and technology skills training were all mentioned.
Cited as resources that could help were Live Well Geary County, Delivering Change, nursing programs and improvements in specialty medical care. Quality of healthcare delivery included more specialties offered by Stormont Vail Health. Pawnee Mental Health was also mentioned.
Some other areas where the county does well with regard to health included trails, playgrounds, the YMCA and and parks, plus feeder sports for youth such as wrestling and volleyball and partnerships.