A Needs Assessment is used by Community Health Centers to identify the needs of the communities they serve. It helps health centers understand specific health challenges, demographics and social economic factors that impact the patient population. This webinar will identify why needs assessments are important, the HRSA program requirements needed for compliance, and identify best practices for developing a needs assessment.

1. www.compliantfqhc.com
Components of a Needs Assessment
COMPLIATRIC WEBINAR SERIES
Presented by: Jennifer Genua-McDaniel
jgenua@genuaconsulting.com

2. This presentation is not endorsed by Management Strategists
Consulting Group (MSCG)
This presentation is not endorsed by Health Resources Services
Administration (HRSA) or Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC)
Not employed by MSCG or BPHC
Independent Consultant who is contracted to do Operational Site
Visits (OSV)s and Technical Assistance (TA) on behalf of HRSA/BPHC
Not intended to provide legal advice

3. Submitting UDS!!!!

4. Why needs
assessments are
important
Needs assessment
and the HRSA
Program
Requirements
Best practices in
developing a needs
assessment

5. Why do they matter?

6. “Process through which your health center
engages your patients and communities to
better understand their needs and assets, to
improve and inform the delivery of health
center services”.
Source: NACHC: Health Center Needs Assessment 101: What they Are and How To Conduct Them
A Needs Assessment…

7.  1. Identifies the health needs of community:
◦ Help to understand and serve specific health needs
of the communities health centers serve.
◦ Identifies prevalent health issues, disparities and
social determinants of health that may be impacting
the patient population.

8.  2. Identifies any new potential service lines:
◦ Based on the needs of the community, health centers
can add to the scope of project.
 Self management goals for chronic illness
 Additional behavioral health services
◦ Patient engagement can provide additional feedback on
potential wrap-around services.
 Day care
 Collaborating with other social service agencies
 Food pantries
◦ Goal: Collaborative not duplicative

9.  3. Basis for a health center’s strategic plan:
◦ Needs assessment provides valuable data to assist
in the development of objectives, long-term goals
and initiatives.

10.  4. Used to support philanthropic and grant
funding requests:
◦ Many funders and grant opportunities require a
clear understanding of the needs of the community.
◦ Provides necessary data to support grant
applications and secure funding.
◦ Required as part of HRSA compliance.

11. HRSA Program Requirements

12.  Element a: Service Area Identification and
Annual Review

13.  75% of current
health center
patients must
reside in the service
area.
 Comparison of
Form 5B zip codes
and most recent zip
codes provided on
the UDS.

14.  Comparison of
Form 5B zip codes
and most recent zip
codes provided on
the UDS.

15.  Element b: Update of Needs Assessment

16.  Healthcare utilization
◦ Who are your patients?
Where do they work?
What do they do? How
do they get to your
health center? What is
their highest level of
education?
 Significant causes of
morbidity and mortality
◦ Diabetes, high blood
pressure, cancer, low
birth weight babies,
behavioral health, health
disparities-housing,
racial injustice

17.  Unique healthcare
needs
◦ Cultural/ethnic
factors, physical
environment,
language needs;
 If a health center
receives special
population funding,
must also be
reflected in the needs
assessment

18. Use the needs assessment to make improvements
in the delivery of health center services
Document review of the
needs assessment
Ensure the board is included in the
review and document in the meeting
minutes
Patient engagement is key
Provide questions/focus group in their
preferred language
Utilize open ended questions
Analyze trends

19.  Sample Focus Group Responses

20. Developing a Needs
Assessment

21.  1. Utilize readily available data (Qualitative):
Source: Conducting your Health Center’s Needs Assessment: https://www.nachc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Quick-Guide.pdf

22.  1. Utilize readily available data (Quantitative):
Source: Conducting your Health Center’s Needs Assessment: https://www.nachc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Quick-Guide.pdf

23.  2. Collaborate with Community Partners:
◦ Work with local health departments, hospitals and
other agencies.
◦ Their needs assessments can strengthen a health
center’s data.
◦ Also helps to build partnerships and foster
collaborations.

24.  3. Communicate Findings and Action Plans:
◦ Transparency builds trust with your community,
patients and staff.

25.  4. Putting It All Together:
◦ Needs assessments are tailored to the health
center.
◦ No right/wrong way to complete it.
◦ Remember to ensure that the needs assessment has
all the required elements for Chapter 3 (Needs
Assessment). • Introduction
• Health care utilization
• Morbidity, mortality, health disparities
• Health care landscape
• Other health center priorities
• Conclusions

26. •https://rise.articulate.com/share/6sikqTRR0U77HGJqa2473t1q7Jc6zbJP#/
NACHC: An introduction to Health
Center Needs Assessment
•https://www.nachc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Quick-Guide.pdf
Conducting Your Health Center
Needs Assessment
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avFNz8FPI70
Health Center Needs Assessment
101: What They Are and How to
Conduct Them
•https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/site-visits/site-visit-protocol/needs-
assessment
HRSA Health Center Program Site
Visit Protocol
•https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/compliance-manual/chapter3
HRSA Health Center Program
Compliance Manual

27. Have Additional
Questions?
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