A vast majority of hospitals report they have a strong or total commitment to population health, but the actual state of hospital partnerships with community organizations that aim to achieve population health management varies considerably, according to a recent nationwide survey.
The survey was conducted by the Health Research & Educational Trust, the Association for Community Health Improvement and the Public Health Institute from January to May of this year. It includes the responses of more than 1,400 hospitals and health systems.
According to the surveyors, there are five levels of hospital-community partnerships: not involved, funding (in which the partners can make grants), networking (in which they exchange ideas and information), collaboration (in which they share resources to enhance one another's capacity) and alliance (or a formalized partnership with a binding agreement and shared goals).
Here are five things to know about hospital-community partnerships for population health, as outlined in the survey findings
1. Most hospitals (87 percent) reported having at least some degree of a working relationship with other local hospitals — be it funding, networking, collaborating or an alliance.
2. The population health involvement stage the most hospitals reported they are at currently is the collaboration stage (43.5 percent), followed by the networking stage (23 percent).
3. Hospitals are most likely to partner with public health departments, chambers of commerce, health insurance companies and federally qualified health centers/community clinics.
4. Hospitals are least likely to partner with housing and community development organizations and transportation authorities.
5. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of hospitals reported that they are currently a part of a communitywide coalition.
To see the full summary of survey findings, click here.