Article by Susan S. Maxsween, MHSA – VP Healthcare Operations & Consulting

Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) are essential for identifying and addressing the healthcare needs of communities. These assessments help healthcare organizations and public health agencies prioritize health issues, allocate resources effectively, and implement strategies to improve community health outcomes. At RMS Healthcare, we specialize in conducting comprehensive CHNAs to support organizations in their mission to enhance public health. In this blog post, we’ll delve into what a CHNA involves, its benefits, and how RMS Healthcare can assist you in conducting a successful assessment.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA)?

A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is a systematic process used to determine the  health needs and issues within a specific community. The goal is to identify significant health problems, assess community resources and gaps, and develop actionable strategies to address  the identified needs. The CHNA process will meet the requirements for a hospital to maintain its tax exempt or “charitable” status under section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code. Section 501 (c)(3)(A) requires a hospital organization to conduct a community health needs assessment every three years and to adopt an implementation strategic plan to meet the community health needs identified through the CHNA.[1]

KEY COMPONENTS OF A CHNA

Hospital facilities must complete the following steps to thoroughly conduct a CHNA: (1) Define the community it serves, (2) Assess the health needs of that community, (3) Solicit and obtain input from individuals who represent the broad needs of the community, (4) Document the CHNA in a written report that is adopted for the hospital facility, and (5) Ensure that the CHNA report is publicly available. The work necessary to prepare the CHNA requires the hospital facility to identify the significant health needs of the community it serves and includes assessing the needs of the medically underserved populations, if present, within the community.

The work conducted as part of the CHNA process requires secondary data analysis as well as community input to provide the hospital with the insights necessary to gather information about the health needs of the community. The following section will highlight the research components that are essential to this work.

Data Collection:

  • Quantitative Data: Involves collecting numerical data from sources such as health records, demographic statistics, and surveys. This data provides measurable indicators of health status, such as prevalence rates of chronic diseases, healthcare utilization patterns, and health outcomes. Various data sources may be accessed to compile all relevant data points.
  • Qualitative Data: Includes gathering descriptive information through methods such as in-depth interviews and focus groups. This type of data provides context and deeper understanding of the community’s health experiences, barriers to care, and perceptions of available health services as well as potential gaps in services. Qualitative data is typically gathered from key stakeholders in the community who will support the work required as part of the CHNA.
  • Secondary Data: Utilizes existing reports and studies from public health agencies, academic institutions, and other relevant organizations. Secondary data helps contextualize primary data and provides a broader perspective on community health trends and issues. As with quantitative data gathering, secondary data gathering may also access and utilize various sources.

Community Engagement:

  • Stakeholder Involvement: Engages a diverse group of community members, including healthcare providers, local leaders, school district leaders, local government officials, and residents. Stakeholder involvement ensures that the assessment reflects the community’s diverse perspectives and needs
  • Public Forums and Surveys: Organizes public forums and distributes surveys to reach a broader audience. These tools help collect input from a wide range of community members and gather information on general health concerns and priorities. Public Forums and Surveys allow for gathering broad community input and feedback and are valuable for gaining meaningful insights.
  • Focus Groups and In-Depth Interviews: Conducts focus groups and individual in-depth interviews to gather detailed feedback from specific segments of the population. This approach helps capture nuanced insights that might not be evident from surveys alone. Focus Groups provide a unique platform to gather insights from community members about the project. These sessions will allow for in-depth probing regarding the community’s existing healthcare delivery system and can help identify any needs and/or potential gaps in healthcare services within the community.

Health Prioritization:

  • Needs Assessment: Analyzes data to identify the most critical health issues affecting the community. This involves assessing the severity, prevalence, and impact of various health conditions and issues.
  • Gap Analysis: Identifies gaps between current health services and the community’s needs. This analysis highlights areas where existing resources are sufficient and where additional support or services are required.
  • Community Input: Integrates feedback from community members and stakeholders to prioritize health issues based on their relevance and urgency. This ensures that the prioritization process aligns with the community’s values and concerns.

Strategy Development:

  • Action Plans: Develops detailed action plans to address identified health needs. These plans outline specific interventions, timelines, responsible parties, and resources required to implement effective strategies.
  • Resource Allocation: Recommends how to allocate available resources to address prioritized health issues. This includes budgeting for new programs, reallocating existing resources, and identifying potential funding sources.
  • Evaluation and Monitoring: Establishes metrics and processes for evaluating the effectiveness of implemented strategies. This includes tracking the progress of the action plan, assessing outcomes of implemented changes, and adjusting as needed to ensure continued improvement in community health.

BENEFITS OF CONDUCTING A CHNA

  1. Improved Health Outcomes:

  • Targeted Interventions: By identifying key health indicators, organizations can develop and implement targeted interventions that specifically address the most significant health disparities of the community. This will ensure that health programs and services are more effective and relevant, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
  • Evidence-Based Solutions: The data-driven approach of a CHNA allows organizations to implement evidence-based solutions that are supported by empirical data. This increases the likelihood of impactful outcomes, and also ensures that interventions are meaningful, impactful and sustainable.

  1. Enhanced Community Engagement:

  • Inclusive Approach: Engaging a diverse group of community members and stakeholders in the assessment process helps ensure that the assessment captures a wide range of perspectives and experiences. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership and involvement among community members.
  • Strengthening Relationships: By actively involving the community in identifying health needs and solutions, organizations build stronger relationships and trust with the population they serve. This collaboration can lead to increased community support and participation in health initiatives.

  1. Data-Driven Decision Making:

  • Strategic Planning: A CHNA provides a solid foundation of data that informs strategic planning and decision-making. Organizations can use this data to prioritize initiatives, allocate resources appropriately, and develop strategies that are aligned with community needs and priorities.
  • Benchmarking and Evaluation: Establishing benchmarks through a CHNA allows organizations to measure progress and evaluate the effectiveness of health initiatives over time. This data-driven approach enables continuous improvement and helps organizations adapt to changing community needs.

  1. Regulatory Compliance:

  • Mandatory Requirements: Not-for-profit hospitals are required to conduct a CHNA to comply with federal IRS requirements every three years. Conducting a CHNA ensures that organizations meet these regulatory requirements and maintain their compliance status while also demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to its patients and the community it serves.
  • Documentation and Reporting: A thorough CHNA report provides the necessary documentation required by the IRS. The report and Implementation Plan, as well as community resources, will provide the hospital with key insights for appropriate and effective health policy planning for the required three-year cycle. 

HOW RMS HEALTHCARE CAN ASSIST YOU

RMS Healthcare is a market research firm with a dedicated healthcare division serving the healthcare consulting needs of organizations. We offer comprehensive CHNA consulting services designed to provide actionable insights and support your organization’s commitment to take meaningful and impactful steps to improve the health status of the community you serve. Here’s how we can help:

  • Experienced Staff: We have a team of staff with backgrounds in Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Public Health and Policy,  as well as experienced research analysts. Our team establishes a collaborative partnership with our clients to ensure success. We strive to exceed expectations and work closely with clients to ensure project goals are achieved .
  • Primary and Secondary Data Collection: Our team employs a range of data collection methods, including primary and secondary data collection and analysis to gather robust and relevant information about community health needs.
  • Engaged Community Participation: We facilitate meaningful community engagement through stakeholder In-depth Interviews and Focus Groups, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and included in the assessment process. We also utilize online surveys to allow for broader community engagement.
  • In-Depth Analysis: We conduct a thorough analysis of collected data to identify key health issues impacting a community, and work with our clients to prioritize the health needs based on community input and public health impact.
  • Strategic Recommendations: RMS Healthcare provides actionable recommendations and strategic plans tailored to address identified health needs and enhance community health outcomes. The strategic recommendations are achieved through the development of the CHNA report as well as the Community Health improvement Plan, which details action plans for addressing the identified top health priorities.

Choosing RMS Healthcare for your CHNA means partnering with a dedicated team of experts committed to delivering high-quality, actionable insights that drive meaningful change. Our comprehensive approach and commitment to excellence ensure that your assessment will effectively support your health improvement goals.

Ready to conduct a thorough and impactful CHNA? Contact RMS Healthcare to learn more about how our services can benefit your organization and help you achieve your health objectives.

Get in touch today to explore how we can assist you in your community health needs assessment. Contact Susan Maxsween, Vice President, Healthcare Operations at susanm@rmsresults.com for more information.

[1] Source: Community Health Needs Assessment for Charitable Hospital Organizations – Section 501(r)(3) | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

Relational RMS Blog:

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Consulting

About the Author – Susan Maxsween

Susan has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, specifically in regulatory and operational oversight, quality improvement and education while assisting managed care organizations, health systems and physician practices to transform their organizations to embrace operational changes to improve the quality driven approach in providing patient-centered care delivery. Susan has extensive experience in working with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure the firm strictly adheres to regulatory guidelines as an approved survey vendor and provides operational and compliance oversight for the Healthcare Division. Susan also serves as the HIPAA Compliance and Data Security Officer for the firm, bringing a commitment to operational excellence.

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Since 2010, RMS Healthcare, a division of Research and Marketing Strategies, Inc., has been leading healthcare organizations to embrace operational changes to improve the quality driven approach in providing patient-centered care delivery. We understand that every health system presents unique scenarios, challenges and ultimately, a passion to succeed. We work closely with our clients to cultivate cohesive and long-term partnerships. We have extensive experience in aligning practices to develop, implement and adopt processes to ensure sustainable success that embodies the tenants of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of care delivery, experience in leading Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) through the certification process. RMS Healthcare also has extensive experience in providing targeted healthcare consultative services based upon unique client needs.

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Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (RMS) is a full-service market research firm in Central New York. Formed in 2002, RMS helps organizations that are looking to know more about their customers and/or potential customers. They conduct surveys, focus groups, mystery shopping, studies and analysis. Each project is customized and gets personal attention by the best in the business. RMS has a reputation for getting results and offers an independent means to conduct telephone, on-line and mail surveying, In-depth interviews, intercept interviews, and participant recruitment as well as focus group hosting through QualiSight, its onsite call center and focus group facility. Taking advantage of the region’s reputation for being a great market study barometer, RMS recruits and moderates for focus groups, community forums and town meetings.