Charlotte Hungerford hospital presents needs assessment; Fit Together highlights social-determinant interventions
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Summary
Hospital representatives told the Northwest Hills Council that social determinants — housing, food access, economic stress and related service access — are now the region’s top health concerns. Fit Together presenters called for local collaboration to address rising childhood obesity and provider shortages.
Carla Angervine, director of community health at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, and collaborators presented the hospital’s latest community health needs assessment and described improvement plans focused on social determinants of health.
Brian Mattiello said the hospital’s region-wide survey and focus groups show social conditions — food security, housing stability, economic stress and access to care — are the four major drivers affecting health in the Northwest Corner. "It is the first time that we've had our 4 biggest concerns be essentially social conditions," he said.
Dr. Michael Curry, a founding member of the Fit Together collaboration, emphasized sharply worsening trends since the pandemic, including a marked rise in childhood obesity and mental-health demand. He said one local middle school reported that only "11 percent of kids passed the president's physical fitness test," and urged environmental and policy changes to create healthier habits.
Presenters listed priority gaps: shortages in primary care, mental-health and OB/GYN services; higher hospitalization rates in parts of the region; rising tobacco use in pregnancy; and inequities in early prenatal care. Fit Together highlighted interventions — rewritten school wellness policies, obstacle courses and trail improvements, farm stands, bike-rack installations, community outreach and a communications platform — and offered to partner with towns at no direct cost.
Carla and Brian offered to distribute the slide deck to council members and said the hospital will continue to invite municipal partners into project work and planning.
