. The public is encouraged to participate in this effort to help determine the future direction of health care services and delivery on a local basis.

Entitled the 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment for Pike and Wayne Counties and Carbondale, Pennsylvania, the study will analyze statistical data from a variety of sources and, as importantly, gather and analyze public opinion on community needs. The study includes an internet survey, conversations with key community and health care leadership and people receiving care at Wayne Memorial Family Health Center sites.

The internet survey, which is available to all community residents and takes about ten minutes to complete, can be accessed at

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/waynehealth

The link will be active until March 31, 2013.

The project is guided by an ad hoc committee chaired by Lee Oakes, president of the Wayne Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and composed of representatives from the hospital and health centers, Pike and Wayne Counties and the Carbondale community; the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health; PPL, Inc.; Wayne and Pike County school districts; United Ways; Chambers of Commerce; elected officials; businesses; clergy; and, financial institutions. Technical assistance is provided by HMS Associates of Getzville, NY, a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in rural health.

Completion date for the study is June 30, 2013 and the final product will be made available to the general public via this Wayne Memorial Hospital’s web site. A similar study, completed in 2009 is currently available on this website's home page. That study heightened awareness of the most urgent health care needs at the time in Wayne and Pike counties and provided valuable data used to secure grants to answer some of those needs. Included in those successes were the establishment of a new behavioral health clinic and dental clinic in Lords Valley and an expansion of the Honesdale Family Health Center, both currently under construction.