Assess the health care needs of a selected community by completing an environmental analysis and a virtual windshield survey. Summarize the results of your assessment in a 2-3 page executive summary. Introduction Health care must be evidence-based, effective, efficient, and affordable; it must provide resources that meet the needs of the community. Nurse leaders must understand and thoroughly evaluate the environment to enable the efficient and equitable allocation of resources. A useful tool for this type of assessment is commonly called a windshield survey. Windshield surveys are what you might expect from the name. They are a way of gathering information about specific aspects of a community while driving around, such as the condition of roads, buildings, and housing. This assessment provides an opportunity to examine the prevailing health conditions and social determinants of health in a community by completing an environmental analysis and a virtual windshield survey based on communities within the Vila Health system. Although Vila Health is a virtual lab, the communities represented in this simulation are real, enabling you to conduct an actual community health assessment. Preparation Executive leaders at Vila Health have asked you to provide them with your assessment of the health conditions in one of the communities served by the Vila Health system. Knowing that a windshield survey is needed to validate any underlying assumptions about the needs of the community and inform evidence-based decision making and strategic planning, you have decided to conduct a first-hand exploration of the community, followed up by an environmental analysis. An environmental analysis examines the factors that can influence the performance of a health care organization, which is important in a rapidly changing health care environment. To prepare for the assessment, you are encouraged to begin thinking about how an environmental analysis and windshield survey contribute to assessing community health care needs. In addition, you may wish to: Review the assessment requirements and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete. Review Guiding Questions: Assessing Community Health Care Needs [DOCX] , which includes questions to consider and additional guidance on how to successfully complete the assessment. The following resource is required to complete the assessment. Vila Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey . Vila Health is a virtual environment that simulates a real-world health care system. In the various Vila Health scenarios, you will apply professional strategies, practice skills, and build competencies that you can apply to your coursework and in your career. The information you gather in this scenario will help you to complete the assessment. TEMPLATES Use this template for your community health assessment. Community Health Assessment Template [DOCX] . Requirements Complete th.

1. Assess the health care needs of a selected community by
completing an environmental analysis and a virtual windshield
survey. Summarize the results of your assessment in a 2-3 page
executive summary.
Introduction
Health care must be evidence-based, effective, efficient, and
affordable; it must provide resources that meet the needs of the
community. Nurse leaders must understand and thoroughly
evaluate the environment to enable the efficient and equitable
allocation of resources. A useful tool for this type of assessment
is commonly called a windshield survey. Windshield surveys
are what you might expect from the name. They are a way of
gathering information about specific aspects of a community
while driving around, such as the condition of roads, buildings,
and housing.
This assessment provides an opportunity to examine the
prevailing health conditions and social determinants of health in
a community by completing an environmental analysis and a
virtual windshield survey based on communities within the Vila
Health system. Although Vila Health is a virtual lab, the
communities represented in this simulation are real, enabling
you to conduct an actual community health assessment.
Preparation
Executive leaders at Vila Health have asked you to provide
them with your assessment of the health conditions in one of the
communities served by the Vila Health system. Knowing that a
windshield survey is needed to validate any underlying
assumptions about the needs of the community and inform

2. evidence-based decision making and strategic planning, you
have decided to conduct a first-hand exploration of the
community, followed up by an environmental analysis. An
environmental analysis examines the factors that can influence
the performance of a health care organization, which is
important in a rapidly changing health care environment.
To prepare for the assessment, you are encouraged to begin
thinking about how an environmental analysis and windshield
survey contribute to assessing community health care needs. In
addition, you may wish to:
Review the assessment requirements and scoring guide to ensure
that you understand the work you will be asked to complete.
Review
Guiding Questions: Assessing Community Health Care Needs
[DOCX]
, which includes questions to consider and additional guidance
on how to successfully complete the assessment.
The following resource is required to complete the assessment.
Vila Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey
.
Vila Health is a virtual environment that simulates a real-world
health care system. In the various Vila Health scenarios, you
will apply professional strategies, practice skills, and build
competencies that you can apply to your coursework and in your
career. The information you gather in this scenario will help
you to complete the assessment.

3. TEMPLATES
Use this template for your community health assessment.
Community Health Assessment Template [DOCX]
.
Requirements
Complete this assessment in two steps:
If you have not already done so, complete the Vila Health:
Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey simulation.
Write an executive summary of your community health
assessment, based on your windshield survey and environmental
analysis.
The community health assessment requirements outlined below,
correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide, so be
sure to address each point. Read the performance-level
descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be
assessed. The Guiding Questions: Assessing Community Health
Care Needs document provides additional considerations that
may be helpful in completing your assessment. In addition, be
sure to note the requirements below for document format and
length and for citing supporting evidence.
Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and
needs of a community from a public health perspective.

4. Analyze the environmental factors affecting population health
in a community.
Identify the social determinants of health in a community.
Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis
findings for executive leaders.
Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and
appropriate form and style.
Support findings and conclusions with relevant and credible
evidence.
Document Format and Length
Use the Community Health Assessment Template. This
APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX]
can help you in writing and formatting your assessment. If you
would like to use a different worksheet for your community
health assessment, obtain prior approval from faculty.
The executive summary portion of your survey and analysis
should be 2–3 pages in length.
Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to all source citations
and references.
Supporting Evidence
Cite 3–5 credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or
professional industry publications to support your executive

5. summary.
Additional Requirements
Proofread your executive summary before you submit it, to
minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more
difficult for them to focus on the substance of your assessment.
Portfolio Prompt:
You may choose to save your community health assessment to
your ePortfolio.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 1: Identify the challenges and opportunities facing
health care.
Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and
needs of a community from a public health perspective.
Analyze the environmental factors affecting population health
in a community.
Identify the social determinants of health in a community.
Competency 4: Develop proactive strategies to change the
culture of the organization by incorporating evidence-based
practices.

6. Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis
findings for executive leaders.
Competency 5: Communicate effectively with diverse
audiences, in an appropriate form and style consistent with
applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and
appropriate form and style.
Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions
with relevant and credible evidence.
Vila Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey
Effective health care leadership relies on assessments based on
reliable information. One key tool is the windshield survey —
with a practiced eye, one can make valuable judgments about
the health conditions of a community while performing a mobile
survey.
In this simulation, you will conduct a virtual windshield survey
in either a rural or an urban environment. You will also be
provided with resources to help you begin the environmental
analysis of one of the two communities. You will use the
information you gather to inform your proposal for changes to

7. the health care system.
RURAL:
Shopping Plaza
310 El Dorado Dr.
While economic conditions are overall good in Jordan, there are
vacancies and empty buildings both downtown and in outlying
shopping areas.
Scott County Library - Jordan
275 Creek Ln. S.
The Jordan public library is open four days a week (Mon & Wed
1-8; Tue & Thur 10 - 5) from May to September and five days
(Saturday 10 - 2) from September to May.
St. Francis Health Services
265 Creek Ln. S.
St. Francis Health Services is aligned with Allina Health and
Park Nicollet Health Services, two of the largest health
providers in the region. The facility provides a full range of

8. inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care.
River Valley Education Center
100 Hope Ave.
Provides students in grades 5-8 with academic and social skills
instruction. These students may have average or above-average
learning potential but have been unsuccessful in other special
education settings.
Jordan High School
600 Sunset Dr.
Jordan High School has a student population of approximately
540 students. The school offers athletics, arts programs, and
academic extra-curricular activities. Students can also attend
vocational classes through Southwest Metro Educational
Cooperative where they can earn credit at vocational schools
and North Hennepin Community College.
Jordan Middle School
500 Sunset Dr.

9. The Jordan public schools offer a student and family friendly
single campus. The renovated middle school opened in 2015 and
is adjacent to the Jordan Community Education and Recreation
Center (CERC).
Jordan Community Education and Recreation Center
500 Sunset Dr.
Completed in January 2016, the new Community Education and
Recreation Center includes a 3-gym station with a multipurpose
floor, an elevated walking track, a fitness center, community
locker rooms, and a community room with kitchenette.
Residential Area
Timber Ridge Court, just north of Sunset
Previous
Next
1
2
3

10. Located near the High School, this neighborhood is
characterized by large lots, well maintained homes, and an
abundance of recreational vehicles and boats.
Jordan Elementary School
815 Sunset Dr.
Jordan Elementary School offers programs and specialists in
Special Ed, ESL, Title One services, Gifted and Talented, and a
variety of other interventions and enrichment programs.
Technology is embedded in the daily curriculum in order to
encourage the development of 21st century learning skills.
Oak Terrace Senior Living
622 Aberdeen Ave.
Oak Terrace Senior Living of Jordan is a retirement community
that offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory
Care.
URBAN:
Cave Vin

11. 5555 Xerxes Ave. S.
An upscale neighborhood restaurant, Cavé Vin is a family
owned local restaurant with a French and new-American menu.
Armatage Elementary School
2501 W. 56th St.
Previous
Next
1
2
Armatage Montessori School is a public magnet in Southwest
Minneapolis. The Montessori education method is designed to
offer child-centered environment that encourages children's
natural learning impulses.
Armatage Community Center
2500 W. 57th St.
Previous
Next

12. 1
2
3
4
5
The Armatage Community Center participates in the
Minneapolis Summer Meal Program for youth 18 and under.
Grading Rubric:
1-
Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and
needs of a community from a public health perspective.
Passing Grade: Assesses, via a windshield survey, the general
condition and needs of a community from a public health
perspective. Specifies applicable safety concerns and the
limitations of the survey.
2-
Analyze the environmental factors affecting population health
in a community.
Passing Grade: Analyzes the environmental factors affecting
population health in a community. Clearly articulates key health
issues, opportunities, and threats. Conclusions are well-
supported by credible evidence.

13. 3-
Identify the social determinants of health in a community.
Passing Grade: Identifies the social determinants of health in a
community. Draws well-reasoned conclusions from credible
evidence and articulates underlying assumptions and
uncertainties.
4-
Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis
findings for executive leaders.
Passing Grade: Summarizes environmental analysis and survey
findings for executive leaders. Information is detailed, accurate,
and logically organized. Provides insightful lessons learned.
5-
Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and
appropriate form and style.
Passing Grade: Writes clearly and concisely in a logically
coherent and appropriate form and style. Main points, ideas,
arguments, or propositions are well-developed and engaging.
Adheres to all applicable disciplinary and scholarly writing
standards and conventions.
6-
Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions
with relevant and credible evidence.
Passing Grade: Supports assertions, arguments, propositions,

14. and conclusions with relevant, credible, and convincing
evidence. Skillfully combines error-free source citations with a
perceptive and accurate synthesis of the evidence.