News Releases

Health Needs Assessments Nearly Complete for Several Counties

Three of the counties that have undertaken a health needs assessment project coordinated by The Center for Health Affairs are close to releasing their results publically.  In 2010 The Center initiated an effort to bring together hospitals and other community stakeholders from the entire Northeast Ohio region to conduct overlapping needs assessments that would serve to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act while also providing a county and regional overview of health needs.  The Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio, which has over 19 years of combined experience with health needs assessments, was contracted by The Center for Health Affairs to carry out the assessments.

Ashtabula, Geauga and Lorain County have made significant progress on their health needs assessments and are close to having completed results.

Ashtabula — The health partners who have collaborated on this project met Jan. 20 to review the preliminary report and begin planning for a public release of data.

Geauga — The preliminary reports for child, youth and adult populations will be finished in February.  A date for public release of the data will be chosen at that time and will most likely be in March.

Lorain — The adult report has been written and includes specific data for rural, suburban Elyria City and Lorain City.  The youth survey was completed this month.  A tentative community event to release the data is scheduled for March.

In addition to these counties, Medina has also begun working on the initial phase of health needs assessment including, assembling the stakeholder group and question selection for the survey.  Scheduling of the youth surveys will begin in February.  Completion of the assessment is expected in September.  The Center is considering various options for proceeding with the Cuyahoga County assessment.

For additional information on The Center’s health needs assessment project contact Deanna Moore at 216.255.3614 or deanna.moore@chanet.org.