Community Health: Community Health Needs Assessment

As part of a community health partnership with Valley Health, in this episode of the Valley Today, Janet Michael hosts a discussion with Dr. Jeffrey Feit and Jason Craig from Valley Health. The focus is on the ongoing Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) process. They explain the purpose of the CHNA, which is conducted every three years to systematically identify the health needs and assets of the community. This assessment helps Valley Health prioritize and implement strategies to improve community health. Dr. Feit serves as the Chief Population and Community Health Officer, as well as the Chief Medical Information Officer. Jason Craig, the Director of Community Health, elaborates on the CHNA's role in guiding Valley Health's community benefit investments and partnerships. Both emphasize the significance of collaboration with local organizations and stakeholders to gather extensive and diverse input. Jason Craig details how the CHNA gathers data through surveys, interviews, and standardized metrics. The survey process involves community participation, with efforts to ensure representation from diverse populations. He explains the logistics of the CHNA survey, highlighting that it takes less than five minutes to complete and includes questions on community concerns, solutions, and demographic information. Dr. Feit underscores the importance of community engagement in the survey process, noting that the data collected will inform Valley Health's strategic initiatives and funding applications.  The episode concludes with a light-hearted mention of a potential public service announcement in the form of a lyrical expression, demonstrating the innovative and engaging approaches taken to involve the community in the CHNA process.