LAGRANGE — WellStar West Georgia Medical Center leaders invite participation in an electronic Community Health Needs survey that is being used to gather feedback on needed health services and/or barriers to accessing health care services in west Georgia.

This online survey is part of the research process for WGMC’s 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment, which to date has included a series of community focus groups and stakeholder meetings, as well as external data review. The purpose of the project is to identify and prioritize current health issues facing the community and make recommendations for future health planning.

West Georgia residents ages 18 and older are invited to share their opinions regarding these issues through an anonymous online survey that will be used to help measure and prioritize the health needs of the community. The online survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete, and is available at the following link: www.getstrategy.com/WellStarWGMCCommunitySurvey/. This link, which will remain live until 5 p.m. on May 6, also may be found at www.wellstar.org/wgmc.

In addition to completion of the electronic community survey, the needs assessment process has included a review of more than 140 health status indicators, as well as individual and group interviews with selected community leaders, public health officials, United Way agency leaders and groups representing uninsured and/or underserved populations.

The final survey results will be compiled into a comprehensive report, which will enable WGMC healthcare providers, public health officials and other organizations to collaborate and develop strategies for improving the health status of our region.

For more information on the WGMC Community Health Needs Assessment, contact Jan Nichols, marketing/community relations director at WGMC, at 706-845-3782 or communityfeedback@wghealth.org.