WASHINGTON — Daviess Community Hospital (DCH) has released its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), a comprehensive report that identifies key health priorities and resource gaps within the local community. The hospital is now working with local partners to develop and implement a strategy to address the findings.
The CHNA, conducted every three years by non-profit hospitals, helps guide DCH’s services and partnerships. The 2025 report is based on a survey of 247 residents, with the majority of responses coming from ZIP code 47501, primarily from female and white residents. The largest age group surveyed was between 57 and 67.
Key Findings and Priority Areas
The assessment identified several significant concerns, with the most negative community impacts reported as:
- Use of illegal drugs/substances
- Suicide
- After-hours/weekend transportation
- Homelessness and the cost of healthy foods (tied)
The top-ranked needs identified by the community were:
- Higher-paying jobs
- Affordable, quality housing and mental health services for youth (tied)
- Education to prevent illegal substance use
Based on these findings, DCH has established three priority areas for action: Mental Health, Affordability (including wages, housing, and food), and Substance Use.
Comparing with Previous Assessments
The 2025 CHNA confirms a persistent trend observed in prior assessments from 2019 and 2022. Behavioral health, housing/affordability, and transportation have remained consistent needs over the years. Notably, the 2025 report emphasizes the increasing importance of youth mental health and prevention education within the community.
Next Steps and Community Engagement
DCH has already begun to form an implementation strategy with local partners. This plan will convert the identified priority areas into measurable objectives with specific timelines and assigned departments. Progress updates will be published to allow residents to track the impact of these initiatives. DCH will also continue to focus on “enabling factors” like housing, childcare, and access to care, which influence overall community outcomes.
The hospital is encouraging community members and organizations to engage with the process. Residents can read the full CHNA report, partner with DCH to co-design programs, or submit their own ideas for initiatives that align with the priority areas of mental health, affordability, or substance use.
