Recently, there has been increased interest in the state of public health services and clinical care in Sullivan County. Every two years, New York State surveys adults over eighteen to collect data on healthcare experiences, access to care, employment, housing, job training, healthy food availability, and conditions such as obesity, AIDS, flu, diabetes, child and infant health, cancer, high blood pressure, asthma, and COVID trends. Based on the responses by county, the State then allocates funds to our community health organizations such as local hospitals and clinics. The survey is being done during the month of July. The Sullivan County Public Health Department campaign for the survey “Use your Voice. Be the Change” aims to gather valuable information on health needs in the County. This will help identify areas for improvements and ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

I recently spoke with Amanda Langseder from Sullivan 180 (not for profit health services initiative sponsored by the Gerry Foundation/ Bethel Woods) who told me that the health survey responses from Sullivan County residents are far less than Orange County which means less funding for our local County health services. We are all aware of some very serious Medicaid and health services funding cuts that are staring us in the face and coming soon from the federal government. Rural hospital services will be particularly affected because their patients are more likely to have healthcare insurance from the government than from commercial insurance companies.

For years, the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin collaborate to produce a county health ranking across the US including New York State. The rankings incorporates not only healthcare factors but other social and environmental outcomes  such as quality and length of life and premature deaths, housing, jobs, and educational opportunities for children. Sullivan County, while improving its overall ranking from 60th to 57th (out of 62 counties), the overall health outcomes have not improved or changed significantly and some indicators have worsened. None of this information is news to most of us.

I got a flyer and decided to click on the QR code with my phone’s camera and take the survey. Completing all the multiple-choice answers took five minutes. Only my zip code and age range were requested; no other personal information was asked for. The survey included around thirty very general questions about medical conditions, healthcare access, dental and maternity services, basic needs assistance, food insecurity, asthma care, and addiction services. I took the survey—though it was my first time in thirty-two years of living here—and after reading an article in the Journal News that listed rural New York hospitals at risk of closing in 2025 due to financial and medical benefit changes. The survey is important to support our county’s health services and  any opportunities for increasing funding. Individuals who do not utilize QR codes may visit the Sullivan County Department of Public Health website to complete the survey, which will remain available until July 31st.  For additional information about the survey go to sullivanny.gov/departmentofpublic health.