(Spirit Lake)– Some two thousand farm families throughout northwest Iowa are being asked to participate in a survey on health care.
Carolyn Sheridan, a Nurse Manager for Spencer Hospital’s Agri-Safe Program, says the study will assess factors that may be hindering health care to area farm families. She says farmers will also be asked if they’re aware of the various healthcare services that are available to them.
Sheridan says some of the surveys went into the mail Friday; more will go out today (Monday). Recipients are asked to fill them out as soon as possible and mail them back. Reminder post cards will be sent to those who don’t immediately return them.
In addition to Agri-Safe, other agencies participating in the survey are Community Health Services of Spencer Hospital; Seasons Center for Community Mental Health; a local chiropractic clinic; Lakes Area Decategorization/Empowerment; and Spencer Family Care-Avera Health.
Sheridan says findings from a similar survey conducted in 2001 have been used to educate policymakers on the state and national levels about the need to improve insurance choices for farm families.
