Comprehensive study to evaluate health needs of community and guide future care

HICKORY, NC (May 5, 2025) – Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke Lifepoint hospital, as launched a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to gather valuable insights from community members regarding healthcare needs in Catawba, Alexander, Burke and Caldwell counties. Conducted in collaboration with local health professionals and community stakeholders, this initiative aims to identify current health challenges, set priorities and shape improvements in health care services over the next three years.

Community members are encouraged to participate in a brief online survey from May 4 through May 20, 2025. It is accessible via Frye Regional’s website and Facebook page.

The CHNA is a systematic approach to collecting, analyzing and interpreting data on the overall health of a community. It highlights key factors affecting well-being and evaluates the availability of local resources to address them.

This assessment follows Frye Regional’s previous CHNA, completed three years ago. The current process will measure progress and identify areas for continued focus. Findings will be shared in a public report and presented at a community event this fall.

“We believe that understanding the health needs of our community is essential to delivering effective, compassionate and equitable care,” said Philip Greene, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Frye Regional Medical Center. “Our Community Health Needs Assessment is more than a requirement—it’s a commitment. It reflects our promise to listen, learn and lead with purpose as we continue to fulfill our mission of making communities healthier®.”

The CHNA will incorporate newly gathered data alongside information previously gathered by local, state and federal health agencies. This comprehensive perspective will inform targeted strategies tailored to each county’s unique needs.

In addition, Frye Regional will host a community focus group in July to further explore the survey’s findings. Residents, hospital employees and health care providers will be invited to share their perspectives on pressing issues and the changes they hope to see in their communities. This input will help define future health priorities.

“By engaging directly with the people we serve, we gain meaningful insight into their concerns and ideas for improving health outcomes,” said Dr. Greene. “This input is vital as we use the data to create a plan that drives real, impactful action.”

Frye Regional is partnering with Strata, a research organization, to support the CHNA process through data collection and analysis. Hospital leadership will review the results and share with Frye Regional’s board of directors to guide future planning and service delivery.

To access the survey, visit Frye Regional’s website.