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Representatives from HARI member hospitals and health systems — Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan), Care New England, CharterCare, Eleanor Slater Hospital, Landmark Medical Center, South County Health and Yale New Haven Health Westerly Hospital — serve on a steering committee to oversee the CHNA and coordinate efforts for research and stakeholder engagement. The CHNA research will center on the social drivers of health (SDoH) — the factors where people live that affect their health. SDoH includes access to healthcare, education attainment, economic opportunity, social context and discrimination, and the environment and built community. Examining SDoH factors in conjunction with health statistics helps point at underlying inequities that result in health disparities.
“More than 40% of health outcomes are determined by things that happen outside of the walls of our hospitals and health systems,” said Lisa Tomasso, Senior Vice President of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island. “The CHNA convenes hospitals and other community-based organizations, policy makers and residents to identify the unique health challenges across Rhode Island to inform community health initiatives and advance health equity.”
“Given the current state of healthcare in Rhode Island, it is more crucial than ever for all stakeholders to collaborate to ensure high-quality and accessible healthcare for every Rhode Islander," Tomasso continued.
A Community Health Needs Assessment is a process that nonprofit hospitals in the United States are federally required to conduct every three years under the Affordable Care Act. The assessment aims to identify and address the most significant health needs within the community that hospitals serve.
CHNA research methods will include secondary data collection and analysis, a survey and meetings with community partners and stakeholders, listening sessions and focus groups with community residents and open forums to review and discuss research findings. Engagement efforts are underway and will continue through June 2025.
More information about the study and opportunities to participate can be found at HARI.org or by calling 401-443-2803.
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