Chesapeake Regional Healthcare: Support from the Top for Impactful Relationships

When governing boards of healthcare organizations resolve to support their executive teams' commitments of time and money to create strategic action plans that meet their communities' environmental and social criteria-and when those healthcare organizations work with others that share their passion to measurably improve health-their communities can realize remarkable benefits. For example, this case study describes Chesapeake Regional Healthcare's collaborative approach to a community health need that began with data from the hospital's emergency department. The approach included the development of intentional relationships with local health departments and nonprofits. The possibilities of such evidence-based collaborations are endless, but the support of a solid organizational structure is required as data collection identifies additional needs.