In a recent government meeting, officials discussed collaborative efforts with two AdventHealth Hospitals in Douglas County to conduct a new community health assessment and improvement plan. This initiative aims to streamline the process of gathering health data, reducing redundancy by aligning schedules and sharing costs among the involved parties.

The collaboration is seen as a significant step forward for public health in the area, with hopes that additional hospitals will eventually join the effort. The goal is to establish a comprehensive outreach program every three years, rather than the current fragmented approach.

However, challenges remain in coordinating schedules among hospitals, particularly due to their competitive nature and existing commitments. While there has been interest from other local hospitals, aligning their timelines with the new initiative has proven difficult.

In addition to the health assessment discussions, officials noted that while COVID-19 cases remain relatively high nationally, local numbers are stable. Flu and RSV cases are currently low, indicating a manageable public health landscape for the time being.