Three Rivers offers health assessments for area residents

Staff at the Three Rivers Public Health District want you to answer a few simple questions.

Keerun Kamble, community program coordinator with the public health department, said they are recommending people in the community take a public health assessment.

“It tells people their current health status,” Kamble said. “Through that, we can tell people how to improve their habits that can help them live healthier lives.

“I can tell people if they’re susceptible to diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems. It all adds up to a community level. If we all take steps to be healthy, then the community is healthy.”

Health assessments can be taken two ways: On paper through the Three Rivers Public Health District or online through the department’s Web site, www.threeriverspublichealth.org.

The assessment takes only about 15 minutes to complete and can provide a wealth of information about your health and ways to improve your health.

Public health assessments are a new trend for health departments across the country, but the regional public health department, which serves Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties, is a leader in the program, Kamble said. In addition to having them available at the office and online, staff members are taking the health assessment forms to local employers.

“We are one of the first districts to doing it this way,” she said. “It is the goal of all public health departments and districts to make sure that everyone is taking steps to be healthier. This way we’re getting employers involved. That could be a key to getting more participation from the community.”

The assessment asks people for more than just their current eating, exercise and other habits. It asks about future plans. Here are some examples:

n How many servings of red meat, dairy products, whole grain, sweets do you eat in a week?

n Do you take steps within your daily life to maintain or sustain a healthy weight?

n How many cigars do you smoke a day?

n Do you smoke cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco?

n What percentage of the time do you buckle your seatbelt?

n On average, how closely to the posted speed limit do you drive?

n In an average week, how many alcoholic drinks do you consume?

n How many days in a week do you exercise to the point where your heart rate peaks for at least 20 minutes without stopping?

n At any time during the last year, how often have you felt sad? Angry? Nervous?

n How much stress do you feel because of family? Job?

n Do you feel that you are effective in managing your daily stress?

n Do you live in town or neighborhood or in the country?

n What’s your level of education?

n Do you have health insurance? Dental insurance?

n From a list, choose the three greatest health concerns in our area: Domestic violence, sexually transmitted diseases, methamphetamine use, air pollution, underage drinking, obesity, neighborhood safety, homelessness.

But the assessment also asks if those taking it plan to change their habits regarding these and other topics within the next month or six months.

“It’s very comprehensive,” Kamble said, adding that it isn’t very time consuming. “I just took it. It’s about an 11-page survey, but it actually goes pretty fast. It takes about 15 minutes to answer about 40 questions.

“When you do take it, it gives a picture of what the general population is like, too. So you can compare results.”

For more information call Kamble at (402) 727-5396, Ext. 18 or e-mail her at keerun@3rphd.org.