Local healthcare leaders discussed health trends in Christian County and answered the community’s questions concerning personal health at Tuesday’s Public Health Forum.
The forum was hosted by Pennyrile RC&D and Focus 21st Century at Virginia Street Baptist Church.
The forum’s panel included Nurse Manager Janice Johnson, Maternity Team Leader Ciera Wilford and Chief Financial Officer Mark Laramee from Jennie Stuart Health; along with Christian County Health Department Public Information Officer Cloe Rager; Dr. Chester Crump from Crump Family Practice, Dr. Tresa Croney White from Croney White Dental Practice, Dr. John Heltsley from Heltsley Eye Care and Jill Collins the director of the Pennyrile Area Development District’s Agency on Health and Family Services.
To start the forum, Rager highlighted the results from the health department’s 2024-25 health survey. Over 500 folks responded to the survey answering questions concerning their personal health and healthcare accessibility.
According to the survey, the top health risks folks are facing are substance misuse, lack of livable wages and poor eating habits. Then the top health problems folks are facing are obesity or being overweight, heart disease, stroke and mental health issues.
The survey also includes health-related priorities community members voted for at the health department’s Community Health Improvement Forum.
Rager says the priorities include, access to housing, mental health, education concerning sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse prevention and increasing cancer screening sites. The priorities will also be incorporated into the department’s health improvement plan.
As a dentist, White typically sees her patients every six months which allows her to offer care to prevent dental conditions from developing. She encourages folks to visit their primary care doctor at least twice a year for preventative care, because they might discover something that would have led to health issues developing if it was left untreated.
PeADD’s Health and Family Services Agency is a non-medical organization, but it focuses on strengthening social determinants of health such as food availability, housing, transportation and social support.
Collins says many older adults are not aware of the health services available in the community and may not have another family member that can help them. To help those older adults, Collins says the agency runs the Aging and Disability Resource Center and folks can call 1-866-844-4396 to receive information about the healthcare resources available to them.
The agency also partners with Pennyrile Allied Community Services to provide transportation to older people.
Earlier in the year, Jennie Stuart Health officials announced that the hospital was merging with Deaconess Health Kentucky. The merger will allow Jennie Stuart to have access to Epic Medical Records an electronic health records system. Laramee announced that the records system goes live on October 5.
Laramee says the system allows patients to schedule appointments and connect with their care providers.
At the forum elected officials and other community leaders read a proclamation recognizing the week of September 14 to September 20 as NatureFest Week. Then NatureFest will take over Jeffers Bend Environmental Center on September 20.
