Addressing Community Health Needs

Health care services, such as those furnished at critical access hospitals (CAHs), are intended to meet the health needs of their communities. It is important for state Flex Programs to understand the community needs of their CAHs to develop or leverage program activities in support of health system development, community engagement and population health improvement. State Flex Program proficiency in the following contribute to excellence in addressing community health needs:

  • Understanding the social determinants of health
  • Supporting population health improvement
  • Utilizing community health needs assessments and economic impact assessments

Related Content

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Website

Population Health Portal

This Population Health Portal, created in cooperation with FORHP, helps CAHs, Flex Programs and rural health networks navigate the journey towards improved population health.
Document

Improving Population Health: A Guide for CAHs

A tool for rural hospital leaders in support of incorporating population health principles and programs into strategic planning and operations. A systems-based framework is utilized to identify critical success factors. Tools, resources, suggested readings, case studies and additional materials on how to integrate population health as culture change are also included.
Website

Community Tool Box

The Community Tool Box is a free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities and bring about social change. Their mission is to promote community health and development by connecting people, ideas and resources.
Website

Community Health Assessment Toolkit

This toolkit offers a nine-step pathway to guide and support a robust, community-engaged health assessment process in full cycle from assessment through implementation. It provides strategies for each step of the process and a wealth of resources, including The Guide to Community Preventive Services and other sources of evidence-based interventions.
Document

Population Health Strategies

Discusses population health, its definition, fit with the Triple Aim, mechanisms to improve it and model programs.
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Collaborative CHNAs: Approaches and Benefits for CAHs

Read about the efforts of state Flex Programs to support CAHs in conducting collaborative CHNAs. The results of the assessments can be used by hospitals as well as state Flex Programs to inform their ongoing strategic initiatives.
Document

Conducting CHNAs: A Nine-Step Process

An assessment process centered around convening a broad-based Community Group that reviews data and information to identify health needs of the community, provides qualitative input and makes recommendations to the health facility.
Past HELP Webinar

Using Analytics to Manage Population Health

April 10, 2015

Reviews required population health claims data; a population health management dashboard; understanding that 20% of beneficiaries represent 80% of the cost and a drill down on the most expensive beneficiaries; hot spotting and targeting specific populations; determining what diseases to target and improve and strategies to monitor population health chronic disease data.
Website

Economic Impact Analysis Tool

This tool uses formulas to estimate economic impact of grant program investments on local economies. These calculations help rural program grantees assess performance, and advocate for resources that contribute to program sustainability and improved health care for rural populations.
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Community Benefit Reporting Tool

Instructional power points and associated tools to assist hospitals in creating their own Community Benefit Report and meeting IRS 990 reporting requirements.
Website

Rural Community Health Gateway

The Rural Community Health Gateway is a resource for finding programs and approaches that rural communities can adapt to improve the health of their residents. The Gateway is the home for information about evidence-based models of rural health interventions, as well as innovative approaches.

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB1RH24206, Information Services to Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees, $1,205,000 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.