The Adirondack Rural Health Network released their six-county, six-hospital combined Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Service Plan (CSP) in September 2009. It is a comprehensive collection and analysis of data on health issues and needs in Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. The CHA document can be downloaded directly as a PDF.
The regional CHA-CSP report is a landmark effort in collaboration among
county health departments, hospitals, other agencies and non-profits working to improve community health in the region. The results enable professionals and the interested public to take part in strategically establishing priorities, developing interventions and committing resources to improved health in communities throughout the region. The top three priority health issues were found to be:
- Physical Activity & Nutrition
- Chronic Disease
- Access to Quality Health Care
The detailed, 200-page document has data tables and charts for 11 categories of health indicators. It also includes an overview of the community health planning process and a glossary of terms. Each of the six County CHA’s and the six Hospital CSP’s also can be accessed as PDF’s on the ARHN website.
Tim Holmes, research director at Holmes & Associates, was only one of at least 21 people involved in bringing this year-long effort to its successful completion for the Adirondack Rural Health Network (ARHN). Tim Holmes directed the telephone survey on health issues with over 1,000 area households in 2004, establishing a baseline for comparison with the more recent BRFSS data shown in the 2009 CHA/CSP report. Holmes & Associates has maintained and updated the CHA health indicator data base for the ARHN since 2004.
