AHA issues guide to engaging patients and communities in CHNA process

A new guide from the AHA’s Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence initiative offers hospitals a model for engaging patients, their families and community members in the community health needs assessment process. The Community Health Assessment and Implementation Pathway provides an eight-step approach to integrating community and patient engagement into the CHNA process. “When conducted in a systematic and community-engaged manner, the CHNA process can serve as a powerful tool to develop community partnerships and implement evidence-based strategic interventions that address priority community health needs,” the authors note. The guide was developed by the AHA’s Association for Community Health Improvement and Health Research & Educational Trust affiliate with input from CHNA developers, hospital executives, national experts and patient advocates and support from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.