SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 16
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Community Survey
In an effort to gather input from a greater diversity of individuals in an unobtrusive, confidential, and
convenient way, SVMC designed a digital survey to be completed by a large number of community
members. Questions were wide-ranging, and were intended to gather demographic information,
perceptions of health status, barriers to health care, clinical care experiences, and opinions relating to
community health improvement. The survey questionnaire can be found in its entirety in Appendix D
(pages 91 through 96).
Survey Development
Given the intricacies of survey design and the importance of word choice, question order, and other
factors, SVMC contracted with a local organization, Market Street Research, to assist with development
and hosting of the survey, as well as initial analysis of responses. Market Street Research provided stateof-the-art support to ensure confidence in the survey process and results.
SVMC’s multidisciplinary Community Outreach Task Force initiated the survey development process by
identifying key information that would assist with community health efforts in the future: demographic
data, barriers to care, struggles with the social determinants of health, and opportunity for free
responses were all important topics identified by the Task Force. In particular, the group carefully
considered wording and response options to be inclusive and appropriate for all populations.
Multiple iterations of the survey were designed, with drafts presented to Market Street Research for
review and suggested alterations. Within SVMC, the survey was presented for approval by various
individuals, before it was ultimately published on March 26, 2021.
Survey Advertisement
Of critical importance was ensuring responses from a
representative sample of SVMC’s service area. Multiple
means were leveraged for encouraging completion of
the survey, including:
• Frequent posts on SVMC’s official social media
pages
• An advertisement on SVMC’s website landing
page
• Inclusion of the survey link in SVMC’s weekly
health e-newsletter, sent to a large portion of
SVMC’s service area via email
• Sharing of the survey information with key
community partners and collaborators
• Flyers displayed in waiting areas of SVMC (see
image, right)
• Large board advertisement (with QR code
linked to survey) displayed at SVMC’s regional
COVID-19 vaccination clinic, vaccine clinics held
for members of the BIPOC community, and SVMC’s COVID-19 testing facility.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021