Survey favors Laguna

Laguna Beach residents are pretty lucky, according to the results of a survey conducted by Mission Hospital and made public this week.

The Community Needs Assessment Survey included separate results for the homeless population and the general population. Responses, weighted to reflect the opinions of the general population, showed 75% of these respondents reported excellent or very good general and mental health and mostly they take steps to stay that way.

Less than 8% reported fair or poor health, well below state and national percentages, as were weight problems. And they’ll drink to that.

“Overall, the general population of Laguna is a very healthy community,” said Bruce Lockwood, whose company designed the survey. “Overall results compare very favorably with state or national benchmarks for physical and mental health, diabetes prevention, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, obesity or overweight, access to healthcare services, violent crime and ratings of local health care and public schools.”

The city doesn’t compare so favorably with national figures for alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, skin cancer and smokers who have not attempted to quit in the past year.

More than 76% of Laguna adults are classified as “current drinkers,” those who have had at least one drink in the last month. The national percentage is 52.6%.

Almost 16% of the Lagunans interviewed admitted to having five or more drinks on one occasion in the past month, similar to the national numbers, and 8.3% said a member of the their household has a drinking problem, for which no comparison was made.

The high number of alcohol users is associated with higher incomes, Lockwood said.

“I was surprised to learn that the general population had more alcohol usage than the homeless,” said Laguna Beach Unified School Board member Betsy Jenkins.

Jenkins was in the audience Wednesday for the hospital’s first community forum on the needs assessment. She was one of five women who stayed to respond to a questionnaire meant to gather public response to the survey.

“The alcohol consumption didn’t surprise me,” Lockwood said. “But the degree was a surprise.”

Almost 15% of Lagunans smoke, about the same as in the rest of the state, but less than nationally. About half as many smokers in town compared with national figures quit for more than one day in the last year, 29.6% compared with 57% in the rest of the country.

Unfavorable comparisons to state and national numbers were most often tied to the lower income and aging population.

The assessment results and community feedback will be used by Mission officials to determine programs to improve health and quality of life outside the hospital.

“Our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus in the traditions of the Sisters of St. Joseph by continually improving the health and quality of life of the people in communities we serve,” hospital Healthy Communities Manager George Avila said at the presentation Wednesday in the City Council Chamber.

Unlike other nuns who were cloistered, the St. Joseph nuns were sent out into the community to address needs themselves or through influential folks.

The presentation was one of three this week: the first and briefest at the City Council meeting Tuesday and the third scheduled for Thursday at the hospital’s Laguna Beach campus.

“We are using a lot of different ways to get the information out,” Lockwood said.

The turnout for Wednesday’s hourlong televised presentation was disappointing because hospital officials want public reaction to the survey results before zeroing in on specific targets for improvement.

The report is expected to be posted by this weekend on the hospital’s website, Mission4Health.com.

“We are in a listening mode,” Avila told the five women in a total audience of eight who participated in a questionnaire Wednesday.

Four questions are being asked of the public. What surprised you in the survey results? What didn’t surprise you? What was missing from the survey? What opportunities does the survey show for hospital participation, perhaps in conjunction with other community groups?

Jenkins was not surprised to learn that folks are happy with the city schools.

“I have a granddaughter who is in school here, and she is getting an excellent education,” said Pauline Walpin, a past President of the Laguna Beach Seniors Inc.

Kathryn Doe was not comfortable with the difference in questions asked the homeless and the general population.

The homeless were asked 50 targeted questions, prior to the opening of the ACT V shelter, compared to 159 questions put to the general population, some of which were the same, Lockwood said.

Doe also recommended restoring South Coast to the name of Mission’s Laguna campus.

“It’s a matter of safety,” Doe said. “Families told that loved ones are at Mission could end up in Mission Viejo.”

Although not strictly related to the community needs outside the hospital walls, Laguna Beach Woman’s Club President Gayle Waite recommended restoration of the cardio rehab department to the Laguna Beach campus, which was so popular in the community.

Walpin said community-based programs were her preference. Education is needed about skin care to prevent cancer, substance abuse, health care for the uninsured or low income, she said. .

As for affordable housing, which was perceived by 84.5% of the adults interviewed as inadequate, Walpin said Laguna Beach has more low-income housing than the state requires.

Responses to the presentation of the assessment this week will be followed by prioritization forums set for Feb. 18 and 25 to settle on top community issues as the foundation for a Community Benefit Strategic Plan.

The hospital Community Benefit Committee will make the final selection with input from the campus Advisory Committee, which has some Laguna residents on its roster.

Strategic planning sessions will take place from April to June and a community collaboration will be formed in July to achieve stated goals.