Valued Voice

In 2021, the WHA Information Center (WHAIC) team developed a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) mapping tool that helps hospitals and community partners identify the most prevalent clinical conditions and areas of need in their communities.


Using data from both WHAIC and the American Community Survey, the tool allows for specific analysis down to the census tract level of individual communities. WHAIC employed the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data to help narrow the community characteristics that had the most influence on health outcomes. Clinical conditions data come from WHAIC claims, which are received from every hospital within the state.
 
Accompanying the dashboard is a white paper that includes more details on the data behind the tool and provides instruction on how to use the resource, which is intended to help hospitals and health systems develop and implement CHNA plans.
 
This WHA member-only tool can be accessed within the WHA member portal (a log in is required) at https://www.wha.org/Community-Health-Needs.
 
For questions, contact WHAIC Vice President Jennifer Mueller.