NCH's plan to take care of community's health 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, NCH 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," NCH Executive Director of Community Services and Advocacy Karen Baker said.

The following five key priority areas were identified as community health care needs and will be included in the NCH Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Implementation Plan:

• Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse)

• Obesity

• Access to health care for the under-resourced

• Cancer

• Chronic disease (diabetes, heart/stroke, high blood pressure)

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.

Service area includes Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Island Lake, Lake Zurich/Kildeer, Mount Prospect, Mundelein, Northbrook, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Round Lake, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Vernon Hills, Wauconda and Wheeling.