Prioritizing Community Health Needs: Novel Epidemiological Methods Used in the Pacific Northwest's Largest Public/Private Collaboration for a Community Health Needs Assessment

BACKGROUND: In 2010, local health care and public health leaders began to discuss the upcoming need for several community health assessments and health improvement plans within the Pacific Northwest region in response to the Affordable Care Act and Public Health Accreditation. They recognized that the most efficient and effective approach would be to create a work group responsible for conducting a region-wide community health assessment. The Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative (HCWC) is a large public-private partnership among 15 hospitals, four health departments and two Coordinated Care Organizations in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties of Oregon and Clark County, Washington.

METHODS: Epidemiologists from the four local health departments developed an enhanced Hanlon-method matrix to standardize and prioritize a wide array of local level quantitative health indicators. These primary and secondary data originated form publicly accessible sources in both Washington and Oregon State. This work group systematically analyzed quantitative population health-related behavior and outcome data to identify important health issues affecting each of the four counties as well as the region. More than 120 health indicators (mortality, morbidity and health behaviors) were examined.

RESULTS: The final results from the quantitative matrix, in conjunction with the qualitative data from the community, guided the selection of the final health priorities to be addressed by the collaborative in this regional Community Health Needs Assessment. 

CONCLUSIONS: Local epidemiologists sought a method to systematically analyze quantitative population health-related behavior and outcome data to identify important health issues affecting each of the four local counties, as well as the four-county region. Findings from the prioritization matrix, combined with the qualitative assessment components, provided the information necessary to select health priorities and to implement improvement strategies within the communities this collaborative serves.