The Results Are In… A Look at the Community Healthcare Needs Assessment

Williston, ND (KEYZ) - Fifty percent of respondents to Williston's online Community Healthcare Needs Assessment say they are jumping ship if services do not improve. 

The goal of the Health Care Needs Assessment was to gather information to help inform city leaders of problems and successes in the current local healthcare system. City leadership planned to utilize the results of this survey to develop a plan to address community concerns about access to and the delivery of health care services. 

Responses to the survey showed that 75 percent of survey-takers have chosen out-of-city healthcare facilities over Williston hospitals and clinics. The majority of these respondents said this is due to receiving better quality of care through out-of-town facilities located in places such as Bismarck and Minot. 

Over half of those surveyed noted that the ability to schedule appointments and connect with their providers in a timely manner is of utmost importance to them. Responses indicated that while the providers Williston currently has are excellent, there are just not enough of them to adequately serve the community. 

Behavioral health was a specific gap pointed out in the survey results. Responses indicated that both mental health services and addiction and substance abuse services are lacking. Comments noted that this leads to problems such as misuse of both resources and staff that are not specifically trained to be used for mental health needs. 

Responses to the survey tell the city that many changes need to be made in the next three years to include hiring more physicians and increasing access to healthcare services to meet the demands of an ever-growing population. The report states, "It is evident that the majority of commenters are anxious for change and improvement and expect action.​"