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Community Health Needs Assessment examples: Q&A on CHNA data reporting

Woman showing a community health needs assessment data example

Include integral data in your Community Health Needs Assessment examples 

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) examples tend to focus on case studies. However, using integral data for your CHNA can provide overall guidance, making it easier to start and complete your final report. In this Q&A, DataGen’s Melissa Bauer, principal healthcare informatics analyst, explains why using data in the CHNA is key and what types of data you should collect.  

Q1: What is CHNA data?  

A CHNA requires two types of data: primary and secondary. Using these two data streams, organizations can better characterize the community's health. This helps the organization conducting the CHNA best understand their community needs. It also informs them on the best ways to respond to them, providing guidance on where to start and how to evaluate impact and outcomes. Here’s a further explanation of the data found in a CHNA: 

  • Primary data includes community surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and community dialogues or conversations. It is gathered by or specifically for the assessor. The data are more qualitative in nature and used in addition to secondary data to provide a more robust picture of community needs.   

  • Secondary data are gathered by someone other than the assessor. Examples of secondary data for the CHNA include censuses, government agencies (e.g., CDC), large projects or organizations (e.g., County Health Rankings).  

Q2: Why is CHNA data important?  

Part 1: Nonprofit hospitals need to complete a CHNA 

This answer has two parts. First, from an organization’s perspective, they may need to complete the CHNA every three years to fulfill 501(r)(3)(A) requirements.  

As defined by IRS.gov, Section 501(r)(3)(A) requires a hospital organization to conduct a CHNA every three years and to adopt an implementation strategy to meet the community health needs identified through the CHNA. Additionally, some states require even more detail and tighter timeframes for their CHNAs. So, while there is not an application per se, it’s a federal requirement for all nonprofit hospitals to complete a CHNA. 

Collecting data is a cornerstone of completing the CHNA, especially when determining how to initiate and improve community healthcare programs. So, one part is out of necessity. Because, without data, an assessor could not determine the needs of the communities they serve. 

Part 2: Communities want to accurately address specific health needs 

The other part boils down to addressing social determinants of health. In other words, the goal of the CHNA is to help communities identify and address health needs. According to Community Commons, CHNAs help to: 

  • improve health; 

  • increase access to care; and  

  • reduce health inequities. 

By figuring out what needs to be addressed, healthcare organizations, local health departments and community-based organizations can partner to help direct resources to solve key challenges. 


Q3: How can DataGen help you collect and report on these data? 

DataGen created a master metric model of over 400 indicators to fulfill secondary data needs. Key features include: 

  1. Metrics curated from both publicly available and proprietary sources.   

  1. National and statewide benchmarking, as well as population adjustments.  

  1. Metrics for the county, Zip code and census tract levels are provided as graphs, tables and maps.  

  1. Incorporation of aggregate claims data (e.g., ED data), health-related social need screening data and a variety of other datasets provided by clients. 

For primary data needs, DataGen has community-based organizations and public surveys. We host focus groups, key informant interviews and other events to help collect other qualitative data, then interpret and assign topics to this information to create quantitative analyses. 

CHNA data reporting is possible: See what DataGen can do! 

When it comes to metrics and survey data, DataGen’s CHNA Advantage™ solution has you covered. Contact us today and get ready to execute your CHNA with new data insights in mind! 

Want more information? Discover the four best tips on how to get your CHNA report started in What is a Community Health Needs Assessment. Then, explore the three keys to simplify the CHNA reporting process.  

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