JOHN DAY The work continues toward making Grant County a healthier place to live.

The initial Community Health Improvement Partnership process has concluded, but the Partnership committee has split into two sub-groups to continue assessing the countys health needs and resources, and strive to implement improvements.

The Healthy Living Committee will examine health concerns such as affordable screenings, health status concerns and prevention education. One of their first projects is to compile and publish a comprehensive resource guide possibly as early as this fall of all the local health related services and activities available in Grant County.

The Health Access and Promotion Committee will work with local health systems to form recommendations related to such areas as urgent care, doctor turnover and confidentiality. Among the groups first priorities is to look into improving and promoting access and availability of health care services for local residents.

The two teams will each meet periodically and report their recommendations to the CHIP advisory group, which includes members from Blue Mountain Hospital District, the Grant County Health Department, other county agencies, and interested community residents.

CHIPs main goal is to assess health status and health resources, and find ways to improve the health care system for Grant County residents. Linda Watson coordinated the local CHIP process, which is co-sponsored by the Blue Mountain Hospital District and the Oregon Office of Rural Health.

Watson introduced the Partnership last summer during a community awareness drive that included a booth at the Grant County Health Fair.

The process began last fall, with a Community Health Needs Assessment survey sent out to area households. The survey had a 53.5 percent response rate.

In mid-January, a public community meeting drew more than 50 Grant County residents, and was led by CHIP members representing a broad-based group of 25 local representatives. Together, they created lists of the positives and negatives of current services, and brainstormed what they would do to make Grant County a healthier place to live.

The key suggestions from that meeting included: more visiting specialists, building a community fitness center, more affordable screenings, urgent care, and collaboration among health-care providers.

Watson, who expressed appreciation for all the hard work done by the CHIP members, local medical professionals, the community and the media, said that now the participants will work with the health care system to implement ways to make Grant County a healthier place to live.

Watson is continuing health needs assessment work with the Eastern Oregon Community Care Organizations and will coordinate with the Community Advisory Councils throughout the Eastern Oregon counties.

Local health care improvement is an on-going state effort and Grant County is moving forward with the work that has been accomplished through CHIP, she said.

To view the Grant County CHIP summary report, visit www.bluemountainhospital.org, and click on Public Reports.