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Planning for the health needs of
our residents includes IPLAN. It
is a health checkup for an entire community of nearly 900,000 residents, which is not an easy task.
In 1999, the Health Department completed its second Illinois Project for the Local Assessment of Needs, or IPLAN. The Illinois Department of Public Health requires that all local health departments complete IPLAN every five years in order to be certified.
The DuPage County Health Department recognizes IPLAN as an important blueprint and welcomes the challenge.
According to Deputy Executive Director Dr. James C. Hagen, IPLAN is designed to identify top health needs so that public health resources can be directed most effectively toward health improvement.
“IPLAN is a community-driven process that is coordinated by the Health Department,” Dr. Hagen explained. “It directly involves community members as well as health professionals, academics, and others knowledgeable and interested in the health of the community. Extensive amounts of data are collected and analyzed by a Community Health Committee, perceived needs are examined and further public comment is obtained. Finally, the Community Health Committee prioritizes identified health issues.”
The top ten health priorities identified in IPLAN 1999 are:
1. Untreated Mental Illness and Depression
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2. Domestic Violence
3. Coronary Heart Disease
4. Child Abuse and Neglect
5. Poor Indoor Air Quality
6. Motor Vehicle Crashes
7. Lung Cancer
8. Dental Treatment and Preventive Care
9. Asthma
10. Breast Cancer
Martha Stouffer, Community Education and Prevention Services Manager who served as the Behavioral and Mental Health Services Task Force liaison, commented on the number one health priority.
“Many individuals suffer from their symptoms long before they seek help,” said Ms. Stouffer. “Our task force feels it is important that individuals understand how important it is to seek treatment early. Mental illness impacts worker productivity and causes family distress, especially when the illness is not recognized. ”
Preparation for IPLAN began years in advance. In 1996, the Health Department and the six hospitals in DuPage commissioned a comprehensive Behavioral Risk Factor Study. The six hospitals, Central DuPage Health, Edward Health Services, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, GlenOaks Hospital/Advocate, Good Samaritan Hospital/Advocate and Hinsdale Hospital/Adventist Health System have been crucial IPLAN partners in both 1994 and 1999. In 1997, the Health Department conducted a series of four town meetings in each quadrant of the county to gain input on
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