Health officials seek solutions with survey

North Idaho health districts, hospitals and others are gathering residents’ opinions about the region’s most pressing health-related problems.

A short survey available online asks residents in Idaho’s 10 northern counties to identify the most important factors for a “healthy community,” the most serious “risky behaviors” in the community, and other concerns.

The results will be used to create plans to improve residents’ health that will be carried out by hospitals, health districts and community organizations, according to a news release from the Panhandle Health District.

“We need to know where our community believes resources should be focused,” Lora Whalen, director of the Panhandle Health District, said in the release.

The multiple-choice survey is available on the websites of health districts and hospitals throughout North Idaho, including the Panhandle Health District site, at www.phd1.idaho.gov.

At Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg, the survey is available in the main lobby.