St. Joseph’s Hospital releases Community Health Needs Assessment report
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital (Highland) has released a report detailing the results of its 2014-2015 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
The St. Joseph’s Hospital CHNA is an outcome of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires tax-exempt, non-profit hospitals to complete a CHNA every three years to identify the most pressing health-related needs of the community and to implement strategies to address the needs identified in the report.
The findings of this year’s study highlighted five areas of opportunity that St. Joseph’s Hospital could enhance the overall health within the hospital’s service area that include:
▪ Access to Health Care Services (primary care)
▪ Heart Health
▪ Diabetes
▪ Nutrition & Obesity
▪ Preventative Screenings & Education
With this information in mind, St. Joseph’s Hospital has developed a three-year community needs implementation strategy to address ways to improve the health of the extended community by empowering people with information, knowledge and accessibility.
The St. Joseph’s Hospital CHNA was completed between September 2014-May 2015 with information obtained through community engagement activities that included online-based written surveys completed by residents living and working within the hospital’s service area, as well as key informants, community leaders and additional stakeholders representing the various needs and interests within the St. Joseph’s Hospital service area. The assessment also draws from Madison County Health Department research, Clinton County Health Department research, and additional community health assessment research conducted by local, state, national and federal agencies/organizations.
“Not only is conducting a CHNA consistent with federal law and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) policy,” said Peggy Sebastian, president and CEO, “but more importantly, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), view conducting a CHNA as part of our Mission Integration/Community Benefit policy aligned with our Franciscan heritage of addressing the needs of local communities and involving them in the process.”
A PDF file of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment in its entirety is linked to this story.
This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 3:01 AM with the headline "St. Joseph’s Hospital releases Community Health Needs Assessment report."