Part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is additional criteria for hospitals to maintain their tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) status. A hospital must complete a CHNA at least every three years with input from public health officials and more. Hospitals are then asked to describe how they are addressing needs identified in the community health needs assessment as well as identify any needs not being addressed and explain why not.
Cibola General Hospital completed a CHNA that included all surrounding communities. Input and perspectives were taken from public health systems, nonprofits, local agencies, community individuals and many more. This diverse group of people gave great recommendations that are critical for the success of upcoming initiates and for the community’s benefit. The goal of these assessments were to identify and evaluate health related issues and needs in the community. The assessment is a view of the challenges and opportunities present for population health improvement in Cibola County.
Cibola General Hospital and community partners have a commitment to community health. They have a history of investing in community health programs and partnering with other organizations to identify and address the most urgent health needs in the communities they serve. In addition, they examine other important data including population demographics, area socio-economic factors and resident use of health services.
In Cibola General Hospital’s 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment, the following target areas were identified in ranking order for 2019.
- Substance Abuse
- Through a state grant, work with New Mexico Rural Health to provide opioid education to nurses and first responders.
- Provide suboxone training to providers to prescribe and dispense suboxone.
- Mental Health & Suicide
- Hiring for full time case managers that will work with the clinic and patient care coordinator with patients on assessing treatment needs; developing, monitoring and evaluating treatment plans and progress.
- Begin offering outpatient tele psych services to the community.
- Obesity
- Explore hiring an outpatient registered dietitian for the community.
- Explore offering the Naturally Slim Weight Loss Program, a counseling program that teaches participants healthy habits.
- Diabetes
- Explore hiring an endocrinologist.
- Explore offering Friday clinics for diabetes educations through internal medicine candidate.
- Research offering inpatient dialysis (DCI) for diabetic patients with renal disease.
- Affordability
- Plan to train additional clinic and hospital employees on Medicare/Medicaid applications.
- Explore extending after hours clinic to additional days a week.
“We love being out in the community, educating and keeping everyone healthy! In 2018 we were able to have over 40 mini health fairs each year around the community! said Cynthia Tena, Marketing Director at Cibola General. These innovative programs will promote wellness, preventative care, and help our entire families lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.”
Check out our website and Facebook page to see what local classes we will hold at the hospital for 2019!
Cibola General Hospital invites you to view the full report of the community health needs assessment with the findings conducted in partnership with other organizations and the implementation strategy describing their plan to respond to these needs. We welcome feedback on these assessments in the designated areas. If you would like to get involved with these initiatives, contact our marketing director at (505)287-5208.