A public roundtable discussion, sponsored by the Community Health Needs Assessment, Benton-Franklin Community Health Alliance and Benton-Franklin Health District, allowed the public and Tri-City leaders to discuss policies, community assistance and social factors that influence population health and livable communities.

By Veronica Sandate Craker

Results from a survey given during a February roundtable discussion held by the Community Health Needs Assessment and the Benton-Franklin Health District, showed some Tri-City residents are concerned with the communication between area hospitals, and adequate daycare centers.

But during the forum, residents and city leaders mostly focused on how to better entice residents to live healthy lifestyles.

More than 70 people attended the February roundtable discussion, which included city mayors, county commissioners and area doctors.

Residents who attended said they wanted the Tri-Cities to sdo more with its walking and bike paths and create easier access to the rivers.

Despite only having a small portion of the public take the survey Carol Moser, executive director of the Benton-Franklin Health Alliance, said they were still able to learn a lot from the results.

“I think maybe one of the takeaways was how much the community values its higher education assets,” she said.

The 18-question survey covered questions ranging from community healthcare, quality of neighborhoods, and children and senior living.

Higher education received an excellent score, but results show not everyone feels the youth is being properly cared for.

“The other takeaway was the lack of daycare for children,” Moser said. “I think the daycare question was the only one that had a bad rating, so there were a number of people who felt we needed to beef up those programs.”

When asked how they felt hospitals worked together, most respondents felt it was an area that needed improvement.

Moser said she was surprised by the result.

“We need to get the hospitals working together, I see that at my level, but apparently public perception is a little different,” Moser said.

The survey and roundtable discussion was just the beginning of a larger assessment the Health Alliance is planning to perform.

“This is just the beginning so this is just the assessment phase and the big part will be prioritization and after we get the results back on the reaction from the community … we will have to narrow it down,” Moser said.

Moser said there are plans to hold additional forums in other locations throughout the Tri-Cities.

To find out more about the Community Health Needs Assessment visit www.bfcha.org.