Area Leaders Announce Community Health Needs Assessment
Greater Des Moines (DSM) leaders have announced the launch of a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), which provides a vision for a healthy community environment that supports and enables all Central Iowans to live healthy lives and encourages everyone to take responsibility for their health. In alignment with the Capital Crossroads Regional Vision Plan, a steering committee that included Broadlawns Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, UnityPoint Health, the Dallas County Public Health Department, the Polk County Public Health Department, Warren County Health Services and many community partners and stakeholders led the development of the CHNA. The Greater Des Moines Partnership and Capital Crossroads facilitated the process.
Every five years, local health departments conduct a CHNA for the Iowa Department of Public Health. At the same time, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires nonprofit hospitals to conduct a CHNA every three years. These requirements coincided in 2015, allowing the creation of a single, mutli-hospital regional CHNA.
The 2015 CHNA plan identifies five focus areas. These are:
- Access to care
- Physical environment
- Mental health
- Workforce
- Youth
The CHNA plan will be used by local health organizations to guide organizational practices, priorities, investments and policies. The Capital Crossroads Wellness Capital committee will provide an umbrella for organizations to continue to coordinate their efforts during the implementation stage.
“This is a very exciting plan that includes an unprecedented number of key partners,” said Rick Kozin, Director of the Polk County Health Department and Co-Chair of the Wellness Capital committee of Capital Crossroads. “We know we are stronger when we work together, and we have no doubt that our 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment gives us the necessary direction to move the needle on our region’s health.”
“We look forward to how each of our organizations will use these priorities to help guide our own organizational projects, priorities, investments and policies,” said Jody Jenner, President and CEO of Broadlawns Medical Center.
“Central Iowa business and community leaders have a history of collaboration, and the health and wellness industry is no different,” said Bob Ritz, President of Mercy Medical Center. “We took this unique opportunity to put together a vision and strategy for a healthy community environment for Central Iowans.”
“Health impacts all aspects of a community, and this plan will help our region continue to grow and thrive,” said Eric Crowell, President and CEO of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. “The plan is essentially a roadmap for leaders and organizations to better health for the entire community.”
To read the full plan, click here.
About Capital Crossroads
Capital Crossroads is a bold but achievable vision pushing Central Iowans to dream big, not settle for good enough, think long term, and work together. Capital Crossroads brings together over 600 community volunteers to meet the challenges of the future while building on our past successes. It is in partnership with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, the United Way of Central Iowa, and the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 320 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.