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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

2022 Marion County Community Health Assessment underway

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County and AdventHealth Ocala are seeking input from the local community regarding the topic of health and wellness.

Marion County residents are encouraged to participate in a health survey which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. All responses are gathered anonymously, and the information provided by respondents will be compiled in a report that will be released later this fall.

According to a press release from the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, community leaders will use that report to better gauge which health and wellness issues are most important to residents. The results of the report will help the department chart strategies to make Marion County healthier.

“Our partnership with AdventHealth in conducting the Community Health Assessment is a force multiplier in working towards a healthier Marion County,” said Mark Lander, Florida Department of Health in Marion County Administrator.

Lander continued by stating, “The process starts with the residents of our community. The assessment is like a GPS system, guiding us on how to improve the health and wellness of all of Marion County. But we need the community’s help in determining which direction to go. That’s why I encourage residents to assist us by taking a few minutes to complete the survey.”

Kimberly Williams, Director of Community Benefit for AdventHealth West Florida Division, said, “AdventHealth is committed to building a stronger, healthier community in Marion County, and we look forward to working with the Marion County Department of Health to identify and better understand the needs of the communities we serve.”

A survey is available for Marion County residents, and a separate survey is also available for local healthcare providers.

The link for the surveys will be available until Friday, June 10. This is part of a process that the Florida Department of Health in Marion County must conduct every three years in order to update the Community Health Improvement Plan for Marion County.

For more information on the surveys, contact Kimberly Williams, Community Benefit Director at AdventHealth Ocala, via email (Kimberly.R.Williams@AdventHealth.com) or phone (813-803-4028), or contact Craig Ackerman, Operations Director for the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, via email (Craig.Ackerman@flhealth.gov) or phone (352-644-2588).