Community Health Needs Assessment
Definition
A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) can generally be described as an activity of assessing the leading causes of physical and mental illness and death in a population. Statistical data are analyzed to add credibility and validity to an assessment. Community input is also obtained, and population perceptions are considered to assist in determining the perceived needs of a defined population, as well as focus efforts that will result in a positive outcome to the community's health-related awareness and perceptions along with overall health.
Perry County Health System's Procedure for Completing a CHNA
In 2021, Perry County Health System (PCHS) and Perry County Health Department (PCHD) decided a collaborative approach in the creation of the Community Health Needs Assessment for Perry County would best serve the community. By doing this, we were able to align our efforts, eliminate duplication, and address the community’s needs with a unified, stronger strategy. All of this will bring a larger benefit to the community as we work together on addressing the top health needs for Perry County.
With a goal to improve the health of those living within Perry County, MO, the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment contains data from a variety of sources to identify key areas as either health-related strengths or gaps that need to be established as priorities moving forward within the community. The information contained in this Community Health Needs Assessment will be utilized by Perry County Health System and Perry County Health Department as a resource for planning service delivery, establishing new programs, and appropriating funds to meet community needs.
Methods
Perry County Health System (PCHS) and Perry County Health Department (PCHD) have collaborated with community partners and county residents to complete the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment. These efforts included focus groups with community partner organizations as well as surveys of residents, local physicians, and community partners. In addition to the above methods, data was collected and analyzed from a variety of sources to examine and compare rates and occurrences among populations at the Local, State, Regional, and National levels. After all data was collected, a review took place to identify and prioritize the top needs of the community.
Prioritization of Needs
To identify top health priorities of Perry County residents, significant findings were reviewed from three major sources – community surveys and focus groups, evidence-based data tools with built in prioritization of community issues and areas of focus, and data collection from various evidence-based sources. Surveys and focus groups containing the perceived needs and priorities of local residents, physicians, and community partners were used to supplement, support, and reinforce potential priorities that were found through epidemiological and statistical methods.
Top Priorities
Based on the information available, below are the top priorities identified for Perry County, MO.
- Mental Health
- Heart Disease
- Tobacco/Substance Use
Access the Full Community Health Needs Assessment
For More Information
For those interested in more information pertaining to the 2022 CHNA, or the resources used in developing this assessment, please feel free to contact the PCHS President/CEO or Director of Marketing by calling 573.547.2536.
Make a Contribution to the Future PCHS CHNA
PCHS invites and accepts input regarding the CHNA and general community health needs from any and all Perry County residents, and will consider the professional advice of any expert in the field of community and population health. Such input will be used in adapting our present and all future community health needs assessments and plans. You may direct your input to the PCHS Board of Directors, Administration and/or the Marketing Department. PCHS will endeavor to renew its CHNA every 3 years to maintain compliance with the IRS rule on community health needs assessments and related requirements for charitable hospitals.