Brochure describing basics of COmmunity Health Needs Assessments now required for all 501(c)3 (charitable nonprofit) hospitals.

1. What Is It?
Think of a Community Health Needs Assessment as a tool—a useful tool
that will result in a healthier community. At the end of the process, you will
have an overall, in-depth view on the health care needs in your community.
PROCESS OVERVIEW
You will also uncover specific facts about attitudes, perceptions, and ideas AND ESTIMATED TIMELINE
concerning current and future health needs in your area. Understanding this
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information will help you meet unmet needs and make sure your limited • Initial Consultation
resources make the most impact.
Month 1 • Define Assessment Design
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The assessment involves a variety of community leaders and representatives
who adapt the process to their community and supervise the work. This • Collect Secondary Data
Months 1–3
work includes extensive data collection. • Collect Primary Data
There are many healthcare-related data sources available to a community.
These data serve as a starting point. In addition, focus groups, surveys, and
individual interviews are used to fill in gaps and give the research a fuller,
Month 4
{• Data Analysis and Validation
of Prioritized Needs
more accurate picture of the community.
{• Prepare Community Results,
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Month 5
Once the data analysis is performed, reports are drafted for internal Recommendations and Action Plan
(hospital) and external (community) use. These reports are used to identify Months 5–6 • Establish an Action and Evaluation
community healthcare successes as well as needs, and often identify
opportunities for a hospital to provide additional value to its community. Plan to Monitor Progress
The Requirement The Benefits
So much is changing in healthcare today. One new Compliance may be the nudge to start the process, but
requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care the benefits of truly understanding your market can be
Act of 2010 (otherwise known as health care reform) instrumental in fulfilling your hospital’s mission.
makes it necessary for all hospitals that are charitable entities
(nonprofit organizations under Section 501(c) 3) to perform A Community Health Needs Assessment is an excellent
a community healthcare needs assessment at least every market research opportunity for hospitals. Assessments
three years. The assessments will be required to answer can confirm current hospital initiatives and identify
questions on a hospital’s annual Form 990 Federal tax return. potential new market opportunities.
Every nonprofit hospital, whether independent or affiliated It is also an excellent marketing/branding opportunity.
as part of a network, must complete their first assessment A hospital can advertise its leadership position in the
by December 31, 2013. Hospitals that fail to conduct an community, promote its desire to be responsive to
assessment must pay a $50,000 excise tax levied by the IRS. community needs and desires, and reinforce linkages
If a hospital continues to fail to perform a community health with other organizations serving the healthcare and
needs assessment, the $50,000 excise tax is levied annually related needs of the community.
until an assessment is completed.

2. RSTANDING
CLARIT
UNDERSTANDING
FOCUS
UNDERSTANDING
FOCUS
CLARITY
DISCOVER
COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT
CLARITY An Invaluable Tool
FOCUS
DISCOVERY
Let’s Get Started
With over 60 years of combined expertise in the area of needs Together we have assisted over 200 clients with needs
assessments and planning processes, our team has developed a assessments and related activities. Some of those clients
comprehensive, yet flexible, approach to the Community Health have included:
Needs Assessment process. • Avera McKennan Hospital
We begin by working with your hospital’s leaders to educate them • Dell Rapids Clinic
about the requirements and the opportunities. We will then craft • South Dakota Association of
a research design, reporting format, and dissemination strategy Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO)
that complies with Federal law and provides value to the hospital • Avera Queen of Peace Hospital (SD)
in its strategic, marketing, and business planning. • Pioneer Memorial Health Services (SD)
Basic interview methods, combined with various primary and • Coteau des Prairies Hospital and Clinic (SD)
secondary sources of data collection, have been used by both of • Grundy County Memorial Hospital (IA)
our companies with success for our clients. • Nebraska Public Health Departments
• University of South Dakota School of Medicine
• Wyoming State Diabetes Plan for the
WY Department of Health
• South Dakota State Diabetes Plan
for the SD Department of Health
• South Dakota Office of Homeland Security
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