Assessment 2: Assessing Community Health Care Needs

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Community Health Assessment

Jessica Ramos

Capella University

FPX 6218: Leading the Future of Health Care

Dr. Donna Ryan

November 26, 2021

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Community Health Assessment

Healthcare should be evidence-based, affordable, efficient, and effective. Again, it must

possess all relevant resources needed to meet the community's needs. Indeed, nurse leaders and

other critical stakeholders must inclusively assess the working environment to warrant the

equitable and effective allocation of resources. Thorough assessments give an ideal opportunity of

examining the current health conditions and relevant social determinants attributable to health in a

given community. This is typically achieved through completing an environmental analysis and a

virtual windshield survey founded on communities within Jordan city. Using the data collected

from the community health assessment, the nurse leaders might formulate a community health

improvement initiative based on allocating resources to meet community needs. The executive

summary will critically complete a virtual windshield survey and environmental analysis to

evaluate the healthcare needs for a community situated in Jordan City for quality improvement.

Executive Summary

General Condition and Public Health Needs

Notably, a virtual windshield survey carried out in Jordan town depicted it as a growing

community and revealed a broad array of socioeconomic settings. The city comprises people with

low and medium socioeconomic statuses with a population of around 6,500 residents (Capella

University, 2021). Markedly, the residents have an average monthly income of around $635

(Pennel et al., 2017). From the survey, there are no present and quality healthcare facilities in the

city to provide care services to the growing community (Lightfoot et al., 2014). The only available

facilities under the St. Francis Health Services include Park Nicollet and Allina Health services

that inadequately serve the ever-increasing population. The facilities are far from downtown

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Jordan, and there are no appropriate transport means to visit them. The cost of transport is also

unaffordable for many residents. While the healthcare organization provides a full array of

outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care, the services are not enough for the whole population

(Pennel et al., 2016). The education system in the city is inappropriate and sub-standard. This is

because there are inadequate learning facilities to serve the growing population. Notably, the

Jordan public schools provide a student and family-friendly exclusive campus (Pennel et al., 2017).

The school has numerous outdoor recreational and extra-curricular facilities visited by students,

such as arts programs, athletics, and vocational training (Capella University, 2021). The housing

facilities in the city lack maintenance and have been subjected to wear and tear, while the outlying

shopping centers are empty and vacant without ongoing activities (Pennel et al., 2016).

Environmental Analysis

Numerous social factors affect Jordan town in the provision of quality services, including

unemployment (income status), inappropriate education facilities, and access to quality healthcare

services. According to the recent labor statistics, the unemployment rate in the city is

approximately 25% (Pennel et al., 2017). Again, poverty is the city and its surrounding has

hindered many students from attending learning institutions, deteriorating the education system.

Ideally, poor health upshots have been worsened by inadequate health and the town's economic

and social statuses. Since the rural town is not situated near a developed healthcare facility, the

community is limited from accessing preventive care and critical or emergency care (Capella

University, 2021). The poor economic state of this town makes it challenging for healthcare

facilities to develop and provide high-quality care services. Inadequate provision of food is evident

in the rural town. The available food shelf has more than 100 active volunteers, which might serve

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around 20 families only on weekends (Pennel et al., 2017). Thus, the rural town has economic

instability because of low quality food sources and educational advancements (Pennel et al., 2016).

If political, social, cultural, and economic statuses are not modified, the rural town will remain

undeveloped.

Conclusion

Most rural areas have social and economic disparities leading to poor educational services,

healthcare service delivery, high mortality and morbidity rates. Such sites need equitable and

effective distribution of resources to warrant easy access to quality care and educational services

(Pennel et al., 2017). There is a need for the relevant stakeholders to implement appropriate

interventions and meaningful policies to improve the quality of social and economic service

provision in rural areas (Capella University, 2021). Considering the case for Jordan town, the

community requires appropriate health services, advanced housing facilities, and a suitable

educational system to boost its social and economic status. For effective and successful quality

improvement, it is imperative to conduct a windshield survey and environmental analysis for

concise corrective measures and policies.

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References

Capella University (n.d.). (2021). Villa Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey.

Lightfoot, A. F., De Marco, M. M., Dendas, R. C., Jackson, M. R., & Meehan, E. F. (2014).

Engaging underserved populations in affordable care act-required needs

assessments. Journal of Health Care for The Poor and Underserved, 25(1), 11-18.

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/537883/summary

Pennel, C. L., Burdine, J. N., Prochaska, J. D., & McLeroy, K. R. (2017). Common and critical

components among community health assessment and community health improvement

planning models. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 23, S14-S21.

https://journals.lww.com/jphmp/Abstract/2017/07001/Common_and_Critical_Components

_Among_Community.5.aspx

Pennel, C. L., McLeroy, K. R., Burdine, J. N., Matarrita-Cascante, D., & Wang, J. (2016).

Community health needs assessment: potential for population health

improvement. Population Health Management, 19(3), 178-186.

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/pop.2015.0075

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT 6

Appendix

Table 1: Windshield Survey and Environmental Analysis

Table directions:

1. Add table rows, as needed, for additional categories.

2. Enter the information (questions, observations and impressions, SWOT category, and references) for each category in columns 2–

5.

Category Questions Observations and

Impressions SWOT Category References

(See note 1.)

Community Size

Population

Age

Ethnicity

Health Issues

Health Care Services

Churches

Schools

Businesses

Buildings

Restaurants

Other

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Notes:

Cite applicable sources for each category of information, either the Internet or the Vila Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield

Survey simulation.