Public Health

Follow the Assessment on Twitter! #UptownHNA
October 31, 2012

Tweets about "#UptownHNA"

News Release: "Gainer launches Health Needs Assessment for Uptown Community"
October 29, 2012

Contact Information

312-603-4210

Info@BridgetGainer.com

October 30, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"GAINER LAUNCHES HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR UPTOWN COMMUNITY"

Chicago - Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer (D-10) has launched a full Health Needs Assessment of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Residents, healthcare providers and other community stakeholders will be asked to volunteer to fill out a survey ranging from questions on current personal health conditions to ease of access to health, dental and mental care.

"The Health Needs Assessment will show us how people in Uptown are accessing health care," said Bridget Gainer, Cook County Commissioner (D-10) who represents the Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods in the County's 10th District, "this survey will also help pinpoint critical gaps in coverage and where to effectively focus available resources."

Last conducted by Gainer in 2010, the Health Needs Assessment found serious gaps in dental, mental health and specialty care in the Uptown community, with more than half of respondents noting that they had not seen a dentist in over five years and 90% unaware of local mental health resources.

"I am proud to say the results of the 2010 survey did not go unnoticed and with the help and support of the Cook County Health and Hospital system and our neighborhood partners, we were able to fund additional services in both the dental and mental health area," said Gainer. "There are many opportunities to use the County Health System to meet local health needs by coordinating with providers across the County."

According to a summary on health needs by the Heartland Alliance, Lincoln Park has a medical professional-to-resident ratio of 1:719; in Uptown, it is 1:5,030. This shows a critical shortage of health care professionals given the population and health needs of the community area.

A survey for residents and healthcare providers are available in multiple languages online and in print at www.BridgetGainer.com. Get updates on the survey progress by following us on Twitter @BridgetGainer using the hashtag #HNA2012.

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News Release - "Gainer launches Health Needs Assessment for Uptown Community"

10th District Health Needs Assessment: Volunteers Needed
August 16, 2012

Over the next few months, we will be updating our 10th District Health Needs Assessment and are looking for volunteers to help us with surveys. Last conducted in 2010, we found that the most critical health needs within the district are access to dental services and specialty care. Specifically within the Uptown Neighborhood, we found only one hospital with dental capabilities and one psychiatric hospital that can admit Medicaid recipients. Over the next few months we will be updating the study to reflect changes over the past two years.

If you are interested in participating in our 2012 Health Needs Assessment as a volunteer, medical institution or community group please send us an email Info@BridgetGainer.com.

Citizens' Guide: Uptown Health Needs Assessment
December 30, 2010

Uptown is considered a medically-underserved area. According to a 2008 summary on health needs by Heartland Alliance, the Lincoln Park community area maintained a medical professional-to-resident ratio of 1:719; in Uptown, it is 1:5030. This means a shortage of health care professionals exist given the population and health needs of the community area. It is this reason I conducted a Health Needs Survey of the Uptown Neighborhood. Due to the amazing support and participation from the community we will be able to use this information to find better ways of serving the Uptown Community.