Health assessment is a cyclical, data-informed process. Many organizations in Lincoln, Benton and Linn County are conducting assessments of some kind, on different timelines, and focused on diverse populations. Regional assessment can streamline these processes while giving groups access to high-quality, comparable data. Documents relating to this process are often called Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP). Data can illustrate the health status and disparities within communities (needed for the CHA), and inform health priorities and measure progress (for the CHIP).
The purpose of the Regional Health Assessment (RHA) is to:
Strengthen community partnerships to support a
coordinated population health data collection effort
Create a regional health assessment
which meets core
stakeholder needs (with the ability to extract data by county, Oregon Health Plan membership, age, and other characteristics)
Collect information around assets and resources, as
well as evidence-based practices
Ensure sustainability of the process, with continuously
updated data and partner involvement
Ultimately, we want to paint a picture of the health status of the region, with the broadest range of data available. 2/2015
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this project incorporate all three of the counties, while being based out of Benton Health Services? This is a regional project, informed by data and partners across all three counties. While project staff are physically located in Benton County, leadership from all three counties and the CCO worked together to craft the project. The data team will foster communication and travel throughout all three counties to ensure broad input by regional partners.
This sounds like a very ambitious project how will you get it all done in a year, while balancing the needs of so many partners? Our intent is to create a sustainable framework for future regional data collaboration. While we cannot fulfill all potential data needs for every partner during the project timeframe, we will create a system with the capacity to continue addressing community health status as new opportunities and resources emerge. This will include a compilation of data needs and gaps with plans for obtaining that data when/if possible. Our focus will remain on the health status of the region, as opposed to clinical encounter measures, or internal performance metrics. A strong, flexible, and transparent process will help meet evolving needs and find new partners. As a community member and potential partner, your investment and involvement is the best way to improve our work and incorporate your voice and expertise into the process.
Who is financially supporting the project?
Inter-Community Health Network CCO has committed funding for this project for one year, with clearly outlined project deliverables. The project is also supported with in-kind services as well as a portion of a separately-funded public health associate.
How can we be updated on the status of this project?
We will use diverse communication tools to update interested partners on our progress, and are always looking for input on new ways to connect! We are also available to share project updates at community meetings by invitation.
