Community health needs assessments (CHNAs), and associated community health improvement plans (CHIPs), are required for community benefit documentation by tax-exempt hospitals as well as public health department accreditation.

Nonprofit hospitals are required to conduct CHNAs every three years to identify pressing community health needs and issues through a systematic and comprehensive analysis of local data. These assessments examine health needs beyond access to care and include other public health objectives, such social, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence population health. CHNAs are informed by multiple stakeholders, including providers, public health departments, and community members.

CHNA findings inform community-wide priorities and support the development of strategic actions identified in CHIPs, including how tax-exempt hospitals design their community benefit spending. CHIPs help coordinate how community partners align health improvement strategies and targeted resources. The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) also uses community health assessments (CHAs) and CHIPs for public health department accreditation.

The Georgia Health Policy Center aids hospitals, health systems, health plans, and health departments (state and local) in designing and conducting CHNAs, as well as facilitating strategic planning for CHIPs. GHPC has experience in collecting and analyzing primary and secondary data, conducting stakeholder focus groups, interviews, surveys and synthesizing findings to inform CHNAs, community benefit design, strategic planning, PHAB accreditation, and related community engagement efforts.

Population Health

Strategic Planning