Community Health Needs Assessment
Non-profit hospitals, like Day Kimball, are required to conduct Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) every three years. The goal of the CHNA is to identify health trends, health disparities, health equity shortfalls, barriers to obtaining health care, and barriers to overall well-being in the communities we serve. Health disparities are preventable differences in health status that affect groups of people who experience social, economic, and environmental disadvantages. These differences in health may be a result of economic status, education, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, geographic location, disabilities, and other factors. Health equity means that everyone should have a fair and just chance to be as healthy as possible. Barriers to achieving health equity include discrimination, stereotyping, language differences, and other societal and structural differences that prevent people from having an equal opportunity to live healthy lives.
The CHNA begins with gathering regional health and wellness data, socioeconomic data, health disparity data, and health inequity data. We then share this information with our community partners and seek their assistance in prioritizing the community needs that most impact our area residents’ abilities to lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. Once the priority needs are identified, we consult with our community partners to identify resources that can help improve community well-being and reduce barriers to achieving good health.
With these insights, Day Kimball engages with community members, healthcare providers, and local organizations to prioritize resources and identify strategies to reduce health disparities and promote health equity across Northeast Connecticut in our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The CHNA and CHIP are approved by the Day Kimball Healthcare Board of Directors.