Small and rural hospitals need to build partnerships with the community to effectively manage population health, according to a report by the American Hospital Association's Health Research & Educational Trust and Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence.
"The Role of Small and Rural Hospitals and Care Systems in Effective Population Health Partnerships" lists 11 strategies for small and rural hospitals to develop strong population health partnerships with the community:
• Encourage hospital leaders to serve on community boards
• Provide community representation on hospital boards
• Survey the community on the effectiveness of the partnership
• Provide financial support to community groups
• Develop joint ventures with the community
• Provide outreach to the community to attract local volunteers
• Share health data with the community
• Develop a shared mission and vision for community health
• Analyze patient feedback on population health programs
• Develop focus groups that are comprised of members of the local community to gauge reactions and opinions on various population health initiatives
• Partner with other local health providers for care delivery (home health, prevention, post-acute care)
AHA's Population Health Partnership Checklist
Scripps, SCL Health: Why Hospitals Are Moving to Hospice, Home Health
"The Role of Small and Rural Hospitals and Care Systems in Effective Population Health Partnerships" lists 11 strategies for small and rural hospitals to develop strong population health partnerships with the community:
• Encourage hospital leaders to serve on community boards
• Provide community representation on hospital boards
• Survey the community on the effectiveness of the partnership
• Provide financial support to community groups
• Develop joint ventures with the community
• Provide outreach to the community to attract local volunteers
• Share health data with the community
• Develop a shared mission and vision for community health
• Analyze patient feedback on population health programs
• Develop focus groups that are comprised of members of the local community to gauge reactions and opinions on various population health initiatives
• Partner with other local health providers for care delivery (home health, prevention, post-acute care)
More Articles on Population Health Management:
25 Population Health Challenges & Opportunities for Small HospitalsAHA's Population Health Partnership Checklist
Scripps, SCL Health: Why Hospitals Are Moving to Hospice, Home Health