Updates to CHA Guidance on What Counts as Community Benefit
In late November CHA convened its What Counts Task Force, a group of community benefit professionals and experts, to discuss how to report costs related to new PACE programs, enrollment assistance, the time of preceptors and mentors and Ebola planning. Click here to see the task force recommendations on these questions.
Going Beyond Clinical Walls: Hats Matter
The Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) has developed a series of communications and resources to encourage partnerships between clinicians and communities. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the materials are targeted at clinicians, clinical staff and administrators and are designed to inform these audiences about the benefits of clinicians connecting with the resources available in communities. Visit the ICSI website to access these resources and to view the Hats Matter video.
NACCHO Brief on Social Determinants of Health
This brief presents the Community Health Improvement Matrix, developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), which can be used by local health departments and non-profit hospitals as they work together to plan and implement activities to address social determinants of health. The matrix uses two factors — prevention level and intervention level — to evaluate an activity's possible impact on social determinants.
While the authors of the brief recognize that this approach does not begin to address the many dimensions and complexities of addressing social determinants, they hope it can provide a beginning point for community dialogue through the CHNA and planning processes.
New Report on Hospital — Public Health Partnerships
The Commonwealth Center for Governance Studies, Inc. has just released Improving Community Health through Hospital — Public Health Collaboration: Insights and Lessons Learned from Successful Partnerships which lays out a set of recommendations intended to assist hospital, public health, other community leaders and policymakers develop strong partnerships devoted to improving community health. The recommendations are based on the results of a study that examined 12 highly successful multi-sector partnerships.
Health Affairs Issue on "Collaborating for Community Health"
Policymakers are paying increasing attention to the relationship between the characteristics of communities and the health of the people living in them. The November 2014 issue of Health Affairs, "Collaborating For Community Health," examined new possibilities being created by the alignment of the fields of health and community development.
These possibilities come from both sides, including recent changes in the community development field that have set the stage for a new focus on improving health, as well as new approaches to health care financing that create incentives for improving health outcomes.
Association for Community Health Improvement Annual Meeting — Registration Open
Registration is now open for ACHI's annual meeting which will be held March 4-6, 2015, in Dallas. This meeting brings together community health, community benefit and population health professionals from across the nation to learn about the latest in community health and to network with colleagues. Visit the ACHI website for more information.
CHA will have an exhibit at the meeting and will host its members for a networking lunch on Wednesday, March 4. CHA members planning to attend the meeting and who would like to attend the lunch should contact Debbie Morrow at [email protected]. CHA will also be presenting a session on Wednesday afternoon with AAMC and VHA Inc. on hospital and health system approaches to conducting CHNAs.
What Counts Webinar Recording — Available Now
The recording of the Oct. 28 "What Counts" webinar is now available on the CHA website. CHA members can access the recording by visiting the CHA Knowledge Center. Members must log in to access content in the Knowledge Center. Once in the Knowledge Center enter "What Counts" in the Search box.
Access the PowerPoint and follow-up questions (see Past Events.)
Accepting Nominations for CHA's Achievement Citation
Do you know an outstanding program that exemplifies the ministry's commitment to carry on Jesus' mission of compassion and healing? Is it inspirational for the sponsoring organization, the people it serves, the community and beyond? If so, then consider nominating that program for CHA's 2015 Achievement Citation.
The Achievement Citation is presented annually to a CHA-member organization that is the creator and lead sponsor or partner in an original, bold, innovative program that delivers measurable results for the community served.
For more information and to submit a nomination for the Achievement Citation and other CHA awards, visit www.chausa.org/awardnominations. The deadline for entries is Dec. 15, 2014.
Upcoming CHA Events — Save the Date
Save the date for the following CHA programs. CHA members will be notified once registration is open.
June 7, 2015 — Community Benefit Pre-Assembly Program — This annual meeting of community benefit professionals from across Catholic health care will provide the most up to date information about regulatory issues and planning tools for community benefit and showcase some of the ministry's most innovative community benefit programs. Held the morning before the 2015 Catholic Health Assembly opens. Location: Washington D.C.
Oct. 6-7, 2015 — Community Benefit 101 — A one-and-a-half day seminar for new community benefit professionals that covers the basics of community benefit programming. Location: St. Louis, MO.
Community Benefit in the News
Recent articles from Catholic Health World featuring community benefit efforts from the across the ministry.