MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2024 – Eight public health departments in the Finger Lakes region have collaborated to create a survey hoping to understand what it’s like to find medical, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, and addictions care in rural communities. The survey will be released publicly on 8/5/2024. Public Health Director Jennifer Rodriguez explains, “We hope to learn how location, the economic landscape, culture, age, gender and past experiences impact residents’ decision-making when they need healthcare.” 

The development of the survey this spring and summer was a collaborative effort led by the Pivital Public Health Partnership. It is a precursor to the region’s Community Health Assessment (CHA) process which will begin in earnest later this year and continue through 2025. Pivital’s Executive Director Michele Foster explains, “Through this project, we hope to gain an accurate picture of how Finger Lakes’ residents experience healthcare and how as public health practitioners, we can tailor our work to mitigate barriers.”