A Toolkit For Community Health Needs Assessment Success

A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is more than a powerful tool for hospitals to take a close look at their community’s health. It’s also required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for not-for-profit 501(c) (3) hospitals every three years.

A CHNA reports on demographic and health data as well as input from key community stakeholders. This information helps to identify significant community health challenges, then guides hospital leaders to prioritize resources, fund programs, and shape policies that create lasting community health improvements.

How to Conduct a CHNA

A CHNA follows a structured process to ensure accuracy, community engagement, and meaningful impact. Here’s how our CHC process works:

Step 1: Establish Parameters and Scope

At the outset, it’s important to define the study area of the communities served, with a goal to include the area where the majority of the hospital’s patients are coming from. It’s helpful to establish the study area based on several factors such as patient origin information, the demographics of the area, availability of data sources and other key considerations. Be sure to not exclude medically underserved, low-income, or minority populations who live in the geographic areas from which the hospital facility draws its patients.

Step 2: Collect and Analyze Data

Use hospital records, census data, and other available demographic and health data to provide insight into the population of the study area identified in Step 1. Keep in mind that data sources, timeframe and availability vary greatly by state.

Step 3: Obtain Community Input

Gathering input from persons who represent the broad interests of the community is a CHNA requirement. Engage public health officials, individuals who represent the interests of minority or medically underserved groups, and community leaders through phone interviews or surveys to capture real-life concerns and solutions. Strong community participation leads to more accurate findings and better adoption of solutions.

Step 4: Document and Communicate Results

Present findings in a clear, accessible format to highlight key takeaways. A well-structured report ensures informed decision-making. Final regulations and IRS Form 990 Schedule H give guidance about the elements that need to be included.

Step 5: Prioritize Community Need

After the CHNA team reviews the findings, the hospital is required to prioritize the most significant health needs based on CHNA data. Prioritization should consider the depth and breadth of the health need, effectiveness of interventions, ability to serve the need, service mix and capabilities, and resources. Final ranking can be determined through group discussion or voting from the CHNA group.

Step 6: Develop Implementation Plan

Develop actionable goals and create an implementation plan to meet the community health needs identified through the CHNA. The plan should address each of the significant community health needs identified and describe in detail how the facility will meet the health need. Working with related organizations is encouraged in developing an implementation plan and/or meeting a health need. Collaboration is allowed in developing the CHNA and implementation plan but each hospital facility is expected to have its own specific report.

Conclusion

Incorporating a CHNA helps identify key health challenges and allocates resources effectively. By embracing a methodical approach, fostering community engagement, and collaborating with local organizations, CHNAs lead to sustainable and impactful health improvements. With careful planning, ongoing monitoring, and community collaboration, CHNAs can drive long-term positive changes that truly benefit communities.