The Partnership for Community Health, which includes health departments from Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, outlined health-related area statistics and sought community input during a meeting May 17 at the Jim Riggs Community Center in Sweet Home.

Benton County Health Department epidemiologist Johnna Peters, who oversaw the session, reported that Linn County had lower primary-care physician and dentist rates than the state's 2020 levels: 10 primary-care providers to Oregon's 16 per 10,000 people, and 4 dentists per 10,000 to the state's six.

Additionally, 14 regional service areas, in...