Hospitals and health systems aiming to better manage and improve the health of their populations are reaching out to a variety of community organizations to meet that goal, according to a recent report by the Association for Community Health Improvement.
"Effective population health promotion necessitates collaborative relationships between hospitals and external organizations to expand the scope of hospital influence into communities," the report, titled Trends in Hospital-based Population Health Infrastructure, states.
On average, hospitals reported having nearly nine partnership types for population health improvement efforts. Community partners range from health-focused groups, like health departments, to schools to the local government.
The following are 15 community organization types that hospitals reported partnering with for population health efforts, based on survey results from 1,198 hospitals.
Primary and secondary education (school districts): 78 percent
Public health department (local): 77 percent
Chamber of commerce or other business group: 71 percent
Community health center: 70 percent
American Heart/Lung/Diabetes Associations: 68 percent
City or county government: 66 percent
Community health coalitions: 61 percent
Faith community organizations: 58 percent
Postsecondary education (colleges, universities): 58 percent
Service leagues (Lions, Rotary, etc.): 55 percent
United Way: 52 percent
Neighborhood organizations: 45 percent
State public health department: 43 percent
YMCA/YWCA: 38 percent
Environmental organizations: 18 percent
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