Altru Partners with Health Agencies on Community Health Improvement Initiatives

Grand Forks, ND – Altru Health System is working with several leading health and fitness agencies in Grand Forks to coordinate a community health improvement project. Agencies partnering with Altru include Grand Forks Public Health, Grand Forks Park District, Grand Forks Fire Department, Grand Forks Police Department and others.

“If people make good decisions about their health and safety, it can have a significant impact on health care costs,” explains Dennis Reisnour, Altru’s chief planning executive. “The community health improvement initiative is a natural extension of the partnerships we’ve developed over the years.”

The project begins with a community health assessment to gather information, identify needs and determine a plan of action to solve the biggest health problems in our community. “Looking at community health indicators allows us to identify and prioritize needed areas of emphasis for all citizens in the Grand Forks area,” states Grand Forks Public Health Director, Don Shields.

The last assessment was executed in 1994 and led to significant changes in Grand Forks over the years. Initiatives included improving the health of children by helping youth build healthy relationships and reduce substance abuse, providing better access to dental care for all income levels, and creating smoke-free workplaces throughout Grand Forks.

About Altru Health System

Altru Health System is a community-owned, integrated system with an acute care hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, more than a dozen clinics in Grand Forks and the region, a large home care network, and a congregate living facility. It employs nearly 200 physicians and 3,800 staff and has an annual net operating revenue of more than $400 million.