Report Identifies Health Needs, Challenges in San Fernando Valley Region
Many residents of the San Fernando Valley lack adequate access to mental health services and struggle to manage chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, according to a report released recently by the Valley Care Community Consortium, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
The consortium is made up of area schools, community organizations and hospitals.
The report found that diabetes, cancer, heart disease and stroke persist as the leading health problems in San Fernando Valley.
The report also focused on the region's increasing need for additional mental health services for low-income children, seniors, veterans and undocumented immigrants.
Ronald Sorensen -- director of community outreach at Providence Health and Services Center -- said mental health issues were the third most common reason why uninsured and underinsured patients visited the emergency department, following childbirth and bacteria-related blood poisoning.
Joni Novosel, director of VCCC, said the data will be used to establish an action plan for providing future services in the San Fernando Valley area (Abram, Los Angeles Daily News, 7/30).
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