Emerson Hospital announced the results of its 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), including opportunities to support the health and wellness of residents throughout the region. A CHNA identifies the wellness-related needs of the region to improve the community’s health and enhance the quality of life for residents. Emerson’s CHNA results come from comprehensive research undertaken from January through September 2021, which included a community survey with more than 3,000 respondents, focus groups, interviews with local partners, and secondary data.
Based on the CHNA, key areas to address are: mental health, health concerns among older adults, economic insecurity, and transportation. “Providing resources to support the health and wellbeing of the community is essential to enhance the quality of life for residents,” said Christine Gallery, Emerson’s senior vice president, planning and chief strategy officer. “We are pleased many people in the region participated in the assessment and look forward to developing equitable solutions to address the unique health needs of our community.”
Emerson plans to focus on developing solutions in these areas over the next three years, with support from community organizations:
Mental health — Among the community survey and focus groups, mental health concerns came up most often across all age groups, income levels, and ethnicities.
Health among older adults — Our region has a higher percentage of aging adults than the state. Improving access to services to help seniors stay connected in their community and homes is a top priority.
Economic insecurity — Increasing economic security by improving access to community services was a frequent request. This includes services to support housing, financial, and food security.
Transportation options — Respondents identified the need for improved transportation solutions for easier access to employment, housing, food, and medical appointments.
To view Emerson Hospital’s 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, including survey results and the complete Strategic Implementation Plan, and listen to a podcast about the needs assessment, visit www.emersonhospital.org/chna.
