The Bridge to Health Survey has been an important source of data on the health status of adults in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin over the past 10 years. The major impetus for conducting the survey is a lack of valid, local data on important indicators of health status. The Survey was first conducted in 1995 and repeated in 2000 and 2005. 
The purpose of the survey is to provide information that will enable organizations and communities to better understand the health status of their population. The survey information has been a catalyst to spur local action to improve health status in many areas, such as reducing tobacco use, increasing cancer screenings, and improving access to health care.
The Survey includes information on the following areas:
- Disease prevalence (physical and mental health conditions)
- Health risk behaviors (smoking, seat belt use, alcohol use, diet, violence)
- Access to health and dental care
- Preventative health screenings
- Current physical and mental health scales with comparisons to state and national norms)
The Bridge to Health Survey 2005 included the following geographic area:
- Aitkin County
- Carlton County
- Cook County
- City of Duluth
- Douglas County, WI
- Itasca County
- Koochiching County
- Lake County
- Pine County
- St. Louis County
- St. Louis County without Duluth