Engaging underserved populations in Affordable Care Act-required needs assessments

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Affordable Care Act mandates Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs).
• Engaging underserved communities in CHNAs is crucial for effective health planning.
• Hospital-community partnerships can enhance the impact of CHNAs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a collaborative CHNA process involving multiple hospitals and a foundation.
• To highlight the importance of community contributions in CHNAs.
• To showcase how CHNAs can symbolize hospital commitment to community well-being.

Main Methods:

• A multi-hospital and foundation partnership in Pennsylvania was formed.
• The process focused on incorporating community contributions into the CHNA.
• Information was gathered on the collaborative assessment process.

Main Results:

• The collaborative CHNA successfully integrated community input.
• The process demonstrated a commitment to addressing community health needs.
• Partnerships can strengthen the effectiveness of mandated assessments.

Conclusions:

• Community-engaged CHNAs are vital for addressing health disparities.
• Collaborative approaches enhance the value and impact of CHNAs.
• Hospitals can leverage CHNAs to demonstrate genuine commitment to community health solutions.