SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 8
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Introduction
Section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code requires that nonprofit health systems and hospitals
complete a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) on a triennial basis. While Southwestern
Vermont Medical Center routinely assesses community health data in efforts to improve quality,
affordability, patient experience, and accessibility, the CHNA process is robust and comprehensive,
allowing for a unique blend of community voices, expert opinions, and public health data to inform
future action.
SVMC views the CHNA as a means to accomplish four goals:
1.
The CHNA builds an information foundation for community health action and clinical quality
improvement initiatives. This learning leads to action, with a goal of improving health outcomes,
reducing health disparities, and ensuring long and healthy lives for all.
2. The CHNA provides an easy, sometimes anonymous platform for citizens to ask questions and
share opinions related to SVMC’s clinical care or community health initiatives. Through this
process, SVMC can carefully craft further communications to resolve confusion or
misconceptions.
3. Further, the CHNA creates a bi-directional flow of communication with community members,
building mutual trust and respect upon which future initiatives will depend.
4. Finally, the finished CHNA is a publically available reference for community members and
organizations. The assessment and associated implementation plan can be leveraged to unite
community-wide efforts to meet the most pressing and complex health needs in the region.
Previously, SVMC has completed a CHNA in 2012, 2015, and 2018. Many of the topics and needs
identified by community members in those years are also highlighted in this report, though new topics
were additionally raised that reflect public health challenges being addressed nationwide. The COVID-19
pandemic and its short- and long-term effects were areas of grave concern for many. The pandemic’s
disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities, as well as those with limited financial means,
cast longstanding health disparities in a new light, starkly revealing the necessary work ahead to create a
more just, healthy, and resilient society.
While this document endeavors to be a comprehensive source for public health data and community
opinion, omissions are unintentional albeit unavoidable. As described in the Methodology section,
careful efforts were made to include a diversity of voices and sources for data. At its height during the
assessment process, the COVID-19 pandemic both hindered and assisted in gathering information and
engaging community members. While in-person meetings were not possible, the pandemic was a
catalyst for some to become more involved and vocal than ever before. This increased community
participation and attention to public health challenges served to strengthen this document and, if
sustained, will strengthen the initiatives undertaken to meet the priority health needs identified.
Though the needs identified in the assessment are complex, challenging, and seemingly intractable,
SVMC is well positioned to develop innovative methods and programs to rise to the challenge. In
tandem with numerous community partners, SVMC will continue to deliver innovative solutions to
improve the health care landscape, and to support healthy communities.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021