Chapter Six: Community Health Assessment and Evaluation
Chapter Six: Community Health Assessment and Evaluation
Practical Application: Book Activity
Practical Application
Setting the Scene
Local health departments help provide a safe and healthy environment for their communities. They provide services such as
- Planning for emergencies
- Securing resources for disasters, such as first aid equipment and vaccines
- Administering vaccinations
- Managing local disease outbreaks
- Inspecting restaurants, grocery schools, and other community resources for food safety
- Implementing and supporting interventions for drug overdoses
They often work with community partners to ensure a base level of health for the communities they serve (National Association of County and City Health Officials, 2017).
Think About It.
Imagine that you are a new member of your local health department. You will need to understand the range of social determinants of health, built environment, and the community’s perception of their health and well being.
- Describe the benefits, disadvantages, and considerations for each of the following types of assessments.
- Census data for the community
- Health impact assessment
- Windshield survey
- MAPP survey
- Hospital needs assessment ( published every 3 years by non-profit hospitals.)
- Which assessment type (or combination of assessments) would you pick to help you become quickly familiar with your new community and why?
- What information will you need to complete a windshield survey?
Practical Application: Additional Guidance
Exercise Title
Community Health Assessment and Evaluation Application Practice Instructor Guidelines
Objective
- Discuss how community health assessments aid in promoting public health and addressing community needs.
- Familiarize students with various assessment methods used to evaluate community health.
- Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing community data and identifying health priorities.
Preparing for the Exercise
- Review the Chapter Material: Read Chapter Six: Community Health Assessment and Evaluation Practice.
- Gather Resources: Collect relevant materials, including textbooks, articles, and online resources related to community health assessment
Exercise Components
- Introduction (15 minutes):
- Briefly introduce the purpose of the exercise and its relevance to nursing practice.
- Describe the community as patient.
- Discuss the role of community health assessments in improving population health.
- Types of Assessments (30 minutes):
- Present the following assessment methods:
- Census Data: Explain the benefits (comprehensive demographic information) and disadvantages (infrequent updates, lack of context) of using census data.
- Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Discuss how HIA evaluates potential health effects of policies, projects, or programs.
- Windshield Survey: Describe the process of observing the community by driving or walking through it. Highlight its advantages (direct observation, community engagement) and limitations (subjectivity).