A Strategic Framework
The HIO Coordinating Council represents a collaborative approach to community health improvement. The scope of the HIO CC’s responsibility includes monitoring community level indicators and identifying specific health issues and priorities through the use of a community health assessment model.
In this model, community stakeholders worked with experts from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health to develop and complete a Community Health Assessment Report for Jackson County. This assessment provides a means of data collection that better aligns efforts among community partners and creates a strategic framework for local health improvement activities.
Our Process
The first Community Health Assessment was conducted from November 2007 to March 2008 in order to gather information on the health status of Jackson County. Over 1,000 Jackson County residents age 18 and older responded to a 180 question survey about their health status, insurance coverage, personal health habits and health care experiences.
In implementing this model, the team initiated the following steps:
- Collect and analyze health information for our County (including subpopulations within our County)
- Measure our health status against other communities, the state and the nation
- Prioritize health issues within the community
- Create a system for sharing this data with community organizations and residents
- Initiate strategic planning to address these issues through collaborative activities
- Monitor impact of health initiatives on community health outcomes