NCH's community health care plans are now online
Northwest Community Healthcare recently collected data through an online community survey, a key informant health survey, three focus groups and secondary data from a variety of sources to identify the current health care needs of the community.
Based on those results, an implementation plan was formed and is now available for residents to view online at nch.org/chna.
Although the needs assessment is an Internal Revenue Service requirement from the Affordable Care Act, Northwest Community Healthcare has been assessing and meeting community health care needs for more than 20 years.
"This helps us fulfill our mission, address the most predominant needs and be good stewards of our resources," Northwest Community Healthcare Director of Community Services Karen Baker says.
The following five key priority areas were identified as community health care needs and will be included in the Northwest Community Healthcare Fiscal Year 2019-2021 Implementation Plan:
• Access to Healthcare for the Under-Resourced
• Behavioral Health
• Obesity (including nutrition and physical activity)
• Cancer
• Chronic Disease (Diabetes, heart/stroke, respiratory)
Implementation Committees were formed to develop strategies, tactics and outcome measurements for each of the priority areas. The plan will be updated annually with results.
Northwest Community Healthcare invites not-for-profit community organizations within Northwest Community Healthcare's service area to request donations of $500 to $10,000 by filling out an application. Northwest Community Healthcare will consider donation requests from charitable organizations that align with the mission, values and needs of the communities it serves. (Individuals and political campaigns are ineligible.)
Applications will be accepted through July 31, and organizations will be notified by Oct. 1. Visit nch.org/communityservices to access the electronic application form.
Northwest Community Healthcare's service area includes: Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lake Zurich, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg and Wheeling.
About NCH
Serving Chicago's Northwest suburbs since 1959, Northwest Community Healthcare is an independent health care system dedicated to serving the community. Its comprehensive, patient-centered system of care has locations throughout Chicago's Northwest suburbs.
Northwest Community Healthcare serves more than 350,000 outpatients and more than 20,000 inpatients treated annually at its 489-bed acute care hospital in Arlington Heights. It is home to a Level III NICU, Level II Trauma Center and a dedicated pediatric emergency department.
The award-winning hospital holds the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence, is designated as a Primary Stroke Center, and earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval in 2015.
Northwest Community Healthcare has a medical staff of more than 1,200 physicians. All 20 locations of the Northwest Community Healthcare Medical Group are staffed with board-certified primary and specialty care physicians. In addition, four Northwest Community Healthcare Immediate Care Centers and Virtual Health provide access to care when and how people need it.