Survey's second phase gets community's view on Beach health system

VIRGINIA BEACH

The feds say Virginia Beach is a pretty healthy place to live, but residents will get their own chance to sound off on the city's efforts to meet the community's needs.

The survey, which will take place over the next few months, is part of a broad look at the Beach's public health systems, including its hospitals, nursing homes, police and fire departments and other public safety servants.

The assessment, which was developed in part by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measures the activities and services of local charities, schools, human services and recreation and art-related groups.

These agencies play vital roles in promoting and keeping residents safe and healthy, said Venita Newby-Owens, the city's public health director.

Virginia Beach is one of 13 pilot sites in the state participating in the public health system assessment. Chesapeake and Hampton are also pilot sites.

The evaluation began last year with a detailed look at the public and private services provided. The Beach brought together more than 50 professionals from across the region, including representatives from local universities, hospitals, nonprofit groups, civic leagues and Beach city departments.

Their job was to evaluate the city's delivery of 10 essential public health services, including efforts to diagnose and investigate infectious and chronic diseases.

So how healthy is Virginia Beach? According to the CDC, which analyzed the professionals' responses, the city's health system does a good job overall, especially with enforcing laws to keep the community safe, such as child-safety seat usage and clean air standards. The Beach is also well prepared to handle emergencies, such as a food-borne illness or infectious outbreaks.

Public health, safety groups, charities and other agencies, however, must do a better job of pooling resources, the survey showed. Too often, different groups, such as city agencies and hospitals, are competing for money to offer similar programs, such as those targeting new parents.

Fragmented services also challenge patients to find the most appropriate care, said Gina Pitrone, Sentara Health Foundation's executive director.

"There's no question that we're constantly referring people here, there and everywhere," she said. "I love the phrase, 'no wrong door.' We all want people to be able to go to one place to get their answers."

Over the next few months, health leaders will take the community's pulse on issues such as smoking, obesity and infant mortality, to determine what most concerns residents and how the city's health system can best address these problems.

"What if we're only offering services that benefits 1 percent?" asked Erin Sutton, an emergency planner with the Beach's Health Department. "That's what we're trying to find out."

The Health Department is leading the local assessment and hopes to have community input on health priorities by the spring. Sutton said health leaders will likely use civic leagues, school groups and health fairs for gathering residents' input.

The department must also collect city demographic data. A committee will then help develop strategies to improve health services in Virginia Beach.

"I don't think we're trying to make everything perfect," said Rebecca Payne, the Health Department's senior statistical analyst. "But there are goals that we can set and, hopefully, some things we can achieve and make an impact with."

Susan E. White, (757) 222-5114, susan.white@pilotonline.com