Quality Quest for Health is overhauling its mission. The not- for-profit group is partnering with The Heart of Illinois United Way and the Peoria City/County Health Department to focus on community health matters. That’s a shift away from a medical institution outcomes based focus.
The move comes as the recent County Health Rankings Report showed Peoria 66th out of Illinois’ 102 counties. Peoria Health Department Administrator Greg Chance says the report is an ideal platform to start a broader health discussion: Peoria’s neighbor Woodford County was ranked third best in Illinois. “Where the differences lie are in the health behaviors of Peoria County residents compared to Woodford County residents, as well as the social and economic factors. This collaborative effort between Quality Quest, the Board of Health and other key stakeholders will attempt to develop broad based strategies that can be implemented across the entire community to hopefully help influence those health behaviors in a positive fashion,” Chance says. “Obesity and other chronic diseases will be key areas for health improvement efforts.”
Chance is new the Managing Director of Quality Quest starting April first.
The partnership between Quality Quest and the Peoria Health Department will tie in representatives from local hospitals, non-profits, and other key entities to improve community health across a six-county area. The regional footprint is the Tri-county area plus Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties.
Quality Quest will absorb costs associated with the new partnership. The agency is also moving into offices at the Peoria Health Department on Sheridan Road.
Quest for community health
