Article on Trenton Health Team Approaches Published in Population Health Management’s “Innovative Assessment of Health Needs Establishes Citywide Health Improvement Initiatives”
by TRENTON – The Trenton Health Team (THT) has combined unprecedented data sharing with direct engagement of community residents to identify the health needs and priorities for the six zip codes of Trenton. This innovative approach to transforming healthcare within a designated geography is described in an article published in the October 2013 issue of Population Health Management, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available for free on the Population Health Management website or by clicking this link: Improving Population Health through Collaboration and Innovation.
In the article “Improving Population Health through Collaboration and Innovation,” the authors, Dr. Ruth E. Perry, Trenton Health Team’s executive director, and Christy Stephenson, interim CEO for St. Francis Medical Center and THT treasurer, describe the Trenton Health Team’s innovative approach to preparing a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, THT partners collaborated to perform a unified community health needs assessment in place of multiple, separate assessments as done in the past. THT’s partnership with over 40 unique community organizations contributed to this robust determination of the city’s health needs.
While the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan are Internal Revenue Service requirements, the Trenton Health Team viewed them as an opportunity to engage the residents and city organizations-another unique aspect of the approach described in the article. Residents participated in numerous community health forums and one-on-one interviews, an unprecedented level of engagement. THT’s approach permitted the voice of the community to shed light on health successes and barriers to health across Trenton.
The unified Community Health Needs Assessment revealed citywide health priorities which include crime, chronic disease, substance abuse/mental health, obesity, health literacy and health disparities. THT is using the CHNA along with additional community engagement efforts to drive the development and implementation of the community health improvement plan. THT’s unique process allows collaborative allocation of resources to manage and improve population health in the city.
Support for this supplement to Population Health Management was provided by a grant from The Nicholson Foundation.
About Population Health Management
Population Health Management provides comprehensive, authoritative strategies for improving the systems and policies that affect health care quality, access, and outcomes, ultimately improving the health of an entire population. The journal delivers essential research on a broad range of topics including the impact of social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors on health care systems and practices.
About the Trenton Health Team
Trenton Health Team (THT) is an alliance of the city’s major providers of healthcare services including Capital Health, St. Francis Medical Center, Henry J. Austin Health Center and the city’s Health Department. In collaboration with residents and the city’s active social services network, THT is developing an integrated healthcare delivery system to transform the city’s fragmented primary care system and restore health to the city. THT aims to make Trenton the healthiest city in the state. The THT receives generous support from The Nicholson Foundation, corporate partners and other foundations. For more information, visit www.trentonhealthteam.org.
