Two county needs study completed

Work cut out for Wayne and Pike

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA - Residents of Wayne County are less healthy than other Pennsylvania counties. Residents of Pike County are more healthy than other Pennsylvania counties. Northern and Central Wayne have the poorest health of the six sub-county communities. Pike residents show higher than normal alcohol/drug disorders and eye disorders.

Where do these claims come from? They come from the 2009 Pike/Wayne Health and Human Services Needs Assessment.

“A needs assessment is like a comprehensive physical exam of a community rather than a patient,” said Lee Oakes, vice chairman of Wayne Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. “An intensely serious grassroots group has been working on this study for two years. It’s a ground-breaking study implemented by the group and its supporters, with over 250 participants in focus groups, by face-to-face interviews with people from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.”

The study received the principal support of Wayne Memorial Hospital, with additional support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development, the United Way, PPL, Inc., Pike and Wayne Board of Commissioners and the Interagency Council of Pike County. Its purpose is to enable Pike and Wayne governing bodies and community organizations to establish policy priorities that will guide the delivery of health care and human services to residents.

The presentation of the study occurred at the meeting of the Pike County Commissioners on May 6.

“Because of the high population growth of Pike and portions of Wayne, the need for human services will increase tremendously in the future,” said Richard Caridi, commissioners chair. “We have our work cut out for us.”

“This study shows us where the real needs are,” said Karl Wagner, another commissioner.

Other concerns highlighted in the study point to a disparity in the county population. “Comparatively speaking, Pike County residents have higher incomes and are better educated than Wayne residents. Yet, comparable demand for human services is high in Pike East and Pike West because they have a higher proportion of single head of household families with children below the poverty level.”

One of the prime needs pointed to by the study is finding more primary physicians who will accept new patients whose financial ability to pay is diminished because they are on welfare or have a low-income.

“That’s a hard one,” said Christine Obser, Pike human development director. “As the results of this study work across the population of both counties, we hope to get a positive response from doctors willing to serve these populations.’

Other areas of need include mental health services, emergency services, youth support, support for the elderly, transportation for people without cars and affordable housing.

Will the assessment be implemented and not just stay on the shelf?

“We intend to spend a great deal of effort getting this study promoted,” Obser said. “Organizations are already using the data and the information contained in the study, especially groups that are looking for outside funding. This data will support what they are attempting to do. Believe me, this study isn’t going to stay on the shelf if our grassroots group can help it.”

The study is available online at www.wmh.org or pikepahelp.org if you want to learn more.