Person Memorial Hospital has initiated a comprehensive study to evaluate the health needs of its community. This Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) aims to identify factors negatively impacting public health and assess resource availability for addressing these issues.
The hospital’s last CHNA was conducted three years ago. The current assessment will review progress since then and outline remaining tasks. Completion is expected by the end of October, with results shared in a detailed report.
“Guided by the results of this important community assessment and the progress we’ve made since the last CHNA, we will soon have a more comprehensive understanding of the health needs of our community,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Person Memorial Hospital. “This will help us focus our resources as we work towards making communities healthier.”
The CHNA will use both existing and new data to evaluate local health needs and suggest solutions. Data sources include previous assessments from various public health organizations.
Community engagement is crucial for this assessment. A focus group will be held, and surveys will gather input from community members, physicians, and hospital staff on local health concerns. This qualitative data will complement quantitative findings to set health improvement priorities.
“The survey will be looking at concerns as seen through the eyes of the residents of Person County,” Beard added.
Strata, Person Memorial Hospital’s research partner, is collecting and analyzing data for the CHNA. They will present their findings to guide program refinement to better meet community needs.
A Community Health Summit will follow data collection completion to present findings and engage the public in planning for health improvements.
“As we demonstrated with our last CHNA, our community assessment is not just about producing a report—it’s about creating a sustained action plan that truly improves the lives of the people in our community,” said Beard.
