Bonner General announces survey

SANDPOINT — Bonner General Hospital is beginning a health care services survey to find out what people think of local health care delivery.

The hospital recently was awarded a Rural Technical Assistance program grant to help fund the survey. The survey is being conducted to assist the hospital's short- and long-term strategic planning, said Lynda Metz, BGH development director.

The goal is to strengthen local health services and programs, increase community awareness of area resources, identify local health care needs and demonstrate the impact of a strong health care system on the local economy.

The survey is not related to ongoing labor talks between BGH and nurses who recently joined the Teamsters Union, Metz said.

On Friday, Mountain States Group of Boise will mail out 1,250 surveys to residents of Bonner, Boundary Kootenai and Sanders counties. The surveys also will be distributed in area grocery stores.

People will be asked about what they think about aspects of local health care delivery and changes they would like to see.

Residents are asked to complete and return the surveys because community input is essential to the process, according to a BGH press release.

A second phase of the survey will begin in late fall, when Mountain States will conduct individual and focus group interviews with designated community members about their perceptions of local health care delivery.

Information from both parts of the survey will be compiled and summarized by Mountain States Group to ensure confidentiality and anonymity.

Results then will be shared with BGH's board of directors and administration to help them develop a strategic plan for the future to meet the community's health care needs.