Abstract
Regarding the needs assessment case study, this specific initiative is a comprehensive health services initiative in New York City based on the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) 2022 by the NYC Health + Hospitals system. The problem is accurately pointed out through surveys, interviews, and community activity as it permits a detailed knowledge of the peculiarities of the community(Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Implementation Strategy Plan, n.d.). Priority criteria of prevalence and severity inform the allocation of resources for the best mitigation of severe health problems. Flexible methods understand that socio-economic and cultural factors are diverse; they acknowledge that one size can not fit all. The barriers are tactically blocked through partnerships, technology, and community outreach. The people are enabled to make decisions, educate, and advocate for themselves. Continuous evaluation ensures responsiveness to evolving communal needs. The synthesis indicates that the program is committed to equity, inclusivity, and longevity in fostering population well-being.
Introduction
The literature on CHNA provides a rudimentary understanding of the necessity to identify and address health disparities within a community. This case study refers to the 2022 CHNA and Implementation Strategy Plan developed by the NYC Health + Hospitals – the most extensive municipal healthcare delivery system in the United States (Lau et al., 2020). The focus is on how far this endeavor furthers the current state of the art on needs assessment, particularly in addressing priority health needs in New York City.
Identification of Health Issues
The program began a broad CHNA through surveys, interviews, and data analysis. This facilitated the collection of qualitative and quantitative data on health status, behavior, and needs at the community level. The CHNA assessed components like patient status, health inequity, and access to health centers.
Aware of the importance of community perceptions, the program involved residents in the identification process. This could have been achieved through diverse approaches such as town hall meetings with portions of the public, focus groups, and community forums. This ensured that the health issues identified were based on outsider assessments and the realities and values of those affecting the problems.
Targeting Priority Health Needs
Prioritization Criteria:
The program had criteria with which health needs were prioritized. This involved measuring a health problem in the community, its level of seriousness, and the potential of firm intervention to have significant effects. Through this systematic approach, the program guaranteed optimal utilization of resources to prioritize healthcare issues of the highest concern.
Unique Community Challenges
The program concentrated on community-specific issues that are under the socio-economic category, culturally or regionally, and found opportunities. These elements were critical in analyzing what led to the health disparities in the community. This phase demanded a delicate sense of the socio-cultural tissue of the community to gear interventions appropriately.
Tailored Approaches
The program acknowledges that a universal cure may not apply to everyone; hence, it adjusted the intervention for specific issues. For example, had the barriers to transportation been Identified, the program could have used mobile clinics or telemedicine. At this level, flexibility was to the extent that interventions were evidence-based, locally relevant, and logistically feasible in the local context.
Overcoming Barriers
Strategies and Initiatives:
The program used different approaches to address the barriers identified. Such programs may include partnerships with local NGOs to improve service delivery, the use of technology to improve access (e.g., telemedicine), and community interventions to reach marginalized populations(Gizaw et al., 2022). Success stories can also be highlighted, showing health outcomes or healthcare access improvements.
Community Involvement and Empowerment
The program highly emphasized community involvement in the decision-making processes. These could be the formulation of advisory committees that have members drawn from the community, regular town hall meetings, and focus group discussions for ongoing feedback.
The Inclusion of the community’s voice into the program created ownership and a response to the community’s changing needs.
Empowering the Community
The program promoted such community involvement and provided education, resources and support that is self-advocacy. The empowerment could come from health education campaigns, training programs, and health literacy programs. Such an empowerment of individuals sought long-term and sustainable changes through the program.
Impact Measurement Methods
The program measured impact both quantitatively and qualitatively. This included tracking the changes in health outcomes, greater accessibility to health care services, and changes in behavioral characteristics related to health. The quality measures may include reduced hospitalization cases, enhanced vaccination rates, or increased preventive screenings(Gizaw et al., 2022). Community satisfaction surveys and qualitative data describing personal experiences could be used as qualitative data.
Ongoing Evaluation Process
Since the community’s health needs were dynamic, the program included a constant evaluation mechanism. The assessments made regular interventions of the reactive nature to the needs of the society. The recurrent feedback loops, periodic reevaluation, and strategies implemented based on the evaluation results were integral to maintaining the program’s effectiveness in the future.
Methods
Host Organization
NYC Health + Hospitals, one of the largest healthcare systems in New York City, designs the program. As a municipal healthcare provider, NYC Health + Hospitals is committed to community health service provision to the diverse population with easily accessible and quality services.
Stage of Program in the Generic Planning Model
The program/initiative is likely in the implementation phase of the Generalized Planning Model. In this stage, planned activities are implemented, where program strategies and interventions are implemented.
SMART Objectives
The program/initiative is SMART goals-oriented. These goals are SMART, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound, and indicate the program’s success and impact.
Types of Goals/Objectives
The goals/objectives encompass several areas, including health equity improvement (3-2-1IMPACT, Street Health Outreach & Wellness Mobile Units, Virtual ExpressCare), chronic disease fight (COVID-19 Centers of Excellence, Simulation Center), resource access facilitation (Faith-Based Initiative, Violence Interruption & Prevention Initiatives.
References
Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Implementation Strategy Plan. (n.d.). NYC Health + Hospitals. https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/woodhull/community-health-needs-assessment-report/Gizaw, Z., Astale, T., & Kassie, G. M. (2022). What improves access to primary healthcare services in rural communities? A systematic review. BMC Primary Care, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01919-0Lau, J., Knudsen, J.,
Jackson, H., Wallach, A. B., Bouton, M., Natsui, S., Philippou, C., Karim, E., Silvestri, D. M., Avalone, L., Zaurova, M., Schatz, D., Sun, V., & Chokshi, D. A. (2020). Staying Connected In The COVID-19 Pandemic: Telehealth At The Largest Safety-Net System In The United States. Health Affairs, 39(8), 10.1377/staff.
https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00903Moline, H. L. (2021). Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — COVID-NET, 13 States, February–April 2021. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70(32). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7032e3
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