Community Health Assessment & CHIP

In 2013 MMS CHS initiated a joint community health assessment (CHA) process through the MMS Healthy Communities Collaborative. The major partners in planning the workshops included all the hospitals in each of the three counties.

A modified framework called Mobilizing Action through Partnerships for Planning (MAPP) was followed to execute the process. From this event three health priorities were identified: mental health, prevention and wellness and obesity prevention.

Three subcommittees were formed under the direction of the MMS HC collaborative, Community Leadership (CLT) to identify SMART objectives, and action steps through the performance management framework. The work of these subcommittees is the basis of the current community health improvement plans (CHIP).

Minnesota statute 145A requires this assessment every five years, while the IRS requires non-profit hospitals to complete an assessment every three years. Due this timing discrepancy and need to partner, MMS CHS will be completing the process every three years.

It has been three years since the last CHA/CHIP process. Since the process was fairly new in 2013 and subcommittees have not fully met their SMART objectives, the process for 2016 will be “mid-cycle” CHA.

This means the CHA process will build on current work of the subcommittees, review new data sources (including local community health survey data and focus group data), identify any new priorities and refine the work of the subcommittees.

A planning committee consisting of members of public health, hospitals, and MDH have been meeting since December of 2015 for the CHA workshop being held on June 2nd, 2016.