Intermountain Health has published its new Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the Community Health Implementation Strategies (CHIS) for Nevada, identifying where the greatest healthcare needs for the communities and the actions that must be taken to enhance community health.

The new assessment report found the most significant health needs in Clark County are: improvement in access to behavioral health care, invest in social drivers (such as housing, food, and safety), increase access to care, and preventing childhood injury and illness.

“These assessments are a data-driven process to help us prioritize health needs and then take action” said Lisa Nichols, vice president of community health at Intermountain Health. “By combining data with personal insight, we can focus our efforts where Intermountain Health can make the biggest impact on community health, we call these significant health needs.”

There is also a strong focus on early childhood health. Efforts such as screenings at well-child checks, immunizations, and safe sleep education help families protect their infants and prevent possible tragedies. This work also includes preventing abuse and neglect among children in our neighborhoods and communities.

The action plan also includes strengthening local coalitions and advocacy groups to help reach as many as possible.

“In Nevada, the data consistently points to behavioral health as a shared challenge across communities,” said Will Rucker, director of community health in Nevada at Intermountain Health. “We’re working to address this challenge through a more upstream approach by strengthening the conditions that shape well-being before a crisis occurs. That means building trust, increasing access through community-based collaborations, and increasing the capacity of community members, such as educators and other trusted adults, to recognize the signs and connect people to the right support at the right time.”

In southern Nevada communities, the report found that expanding behavioral health resources and strengthening suicide prevention efforts are vital. Action includes improving safety, including increasing access to safe firearm storage through gun locks and family education.

Early childhood health remains a key priority in Nevada. Efforts are centered on prevention, strengthening protective factors, and delivering culturally relevant injury prevention education to help adopt safe practices.

“We have been engaging with several groups and community organizations, such as RTC, Safe Kids of Clark County, and the YMCA, among others, to increase access to safety devices such as bike helmets and life vests,” Rucker said. “We all have similar goals, which are to protect and support our kids and families."

Intermountain Health is working toward the Nevada Children’s Hospital to be built on the UNLV Research and Technology Park. The children’s hospital is slated to be completed by 2030.

The CHNA methodology includes working with community organizations, health departments, and more to find the greatest needs for the surrounding area.

The report and implementation strategies help Intermountain Health listen, focus, and act to community needs.

To find out more, the full report can be accessed here on the Intermountain Health CHNA webpage.  

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LAS VEGAS. Intermountain Health ha dado a conocer su estrategia de implementación de salud comunitaria, en la que se describe un plan integral para mejorar los resultados sanitarios de las poblaciones más vulnerables del sur de Nevada.

La estrategia se basa en los resultados de la primera Evaluación de las Necesidades de Salud Comunitaria (CHNA, por sus siglas en inglés) de Intermountain en el sur de Nevada, que identificó el bienestar mental, los determinantes sociales de la salud, el acceso a la atención médica, las enfermedades crónicas y la mejora del bienestar de los niños y las familias como necesidades de salud importantes.

En el informe de la CHNA, se proporcionaron amplios detalles sobre el estado, las necesidades y los activos de salud locales que permiten que el sistema sanitario sin fines de lucro informe e identifique las principales prioridades de salud del área local. Intermountain creó esa evaluación inicial después de involucrar a organizaciones que representaban una amplia gama de intereses en la comunidad del sur de Nevada. Los participantes concedieron entrevistas detalladas para compartir sus perspectivas sobre las necesidades sanitarias a fin de ayudar a priorizar el trabajo de Intermountain Health para colaborar con otras personas en la mejora de la salud comunitaria.

“La estrategia de implementación nos proporciona un marco claro como sistema para abordar estas importantes necesidades de salud en colaboración con nuestra comunidad”, comentó Will Rucker, director de Intermountain Community Health en Nevada. “Si aprovechamos nuestros recursos y trabajamos junto con las principales partes interesadas, podemos tener un impacto medible en la salud y el bienestar de nuestros vecinos más vulnerables”.

A continuación, se mencionan las áreas de interés y las tácticas que Intermountain implementará en colaboración con los socios comunitarios. La lista completa está disponible en el documento Estrategia de implementación.

Mejorar el bienestar mental

·       Reducir las muertes por suicidio

·       Reducir los trastornos de salud mental frecuentes en adultos y jóvenes

·       Reducir el impacto del abuso de sustancias

La estrategia de implementación de Intermountain incluye capacitaciones, recursos, educación, financiación para grupos comunitarios y colaboración con coaliciones y grupos de trabajo.

“Un ejemplo de este trabajo es la reducción del acceso a medios letales mediante la distribución de aproximadamente 575 candados para armas desde el pasado mes de junio a los socorristas y a otras organizaciones con el fin de que las entreguen a las familias”, afirmó Lisa Nichols, vicepresidenta de Community Health. “Hemos comprobado que separar en tiempo y distancia a un medio tan letal como un arma de fuego de una persona que atraviesa una crisis puede salvarle la vida”.

Mejorar los resultados sanitarios crónicos y evitables

·       Prevenir la presión arterial alta y la diabetes

·       Aumentar las tasas de inmunización

·       Reducir las lesiones de los niños 

Intermountain Health se ha comprometido a reforzar la colaboración con las organizaciones locales que trabajan para prevenir la diabetes y la presión arterial alta, reducir las lesiones de los niños y aumentar las tasas de inmunización.

El año pasado, Intermountain Children’s Health colaboró con Nevada Highway Patrol, SafeKids del condado de Clark y los socorristas para concienciar a Nevada sobre los peligros de dejar a los niños en un automóvil a temperaturas elevadas. Intermountain también colaboró con SafeKids del condado de Clark, así como con el Healthy Living Institute del University Medical Center (UMC, por sus siglas en inglés), para concienciar sobre el aumento de las peligrosas falsificaciones de sillas de automóviles.

Abordar los determinantes sociales de la salud e invertir en ellos

·       Mejorar el acceso y la coordinación de la atención social

·       Invertir en viviendas asequibles y mejorar la seguridad alimentaria

·       Aumentar la cobertura y el acceso a la atención médica

Una estrategia clave para mejorar la salud comunitaria es reforzar el programa de trabajadores de salud comunitaria (CHW, por sus siglas en inglés) de Nevada. A través de una colaboración con Nevada Community Health Workers Association, estamos apoyando el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral para ampliar este rol vital. Los CHW son profesionales de la salud pública capacitados que sirven de puente entre su comunidad y los recursos sanitarios y sociales esenciales. Gracias a su experiencia vivida y a sus profundos vínculos con la comunidad, ayudan a derribar las barreras que impiden la salud y el bienestar de las personas de mayor riesgo.

Mejorar el bienestar de los niños y la familia

·       Mejorar la seguridad de los niños y las familias

·       Prevenir lesiones

·       Defender a los niños y las familias

Intermountain Health se ha comprometido con la salud física y mental de los niños y sus familias. Este trabajo incluye la colaboración con grupos comunitarios, la interacción con funcionarios locales y estatales y la aplicación de programas basados en pruebas para mejorar los resultados de la salud infantil en todo el sur de Nevada.

Como parte de este compromiso, Intermountain Health anunció el pasado octubre sus planes de construir el primer hospital infantil independiente de Nevada. Se prevé que el centro, situado en el Research and Technology Park de la Universidad de Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV, por sus siglas en inglés), esté terminado en 2030 y ofrezca atención pediátrica especializada para satisfacer las crecientes necesidades de la región.

La CHNA actual de Intermountain abarca el período de 2022 a 2025. Se está trabajando en la próxima CHNA, que orientará las prioridades de salud comunitaria para los tres años siguientes. El equipo de Intermountain Community Health está colaborando con socios para evaluar las necesidades de salud emergentes con el fin de asegurarse de que la próxima evaluación refleje los activos y oportunidades actuales para el sur de Nevada. 

“Nuestro compromiso con Nevada tiene como base la compasión y la colaboración. Las Evaluaciones de las Necesidades de Salud Comunitaria y la estrategia de implementación nos ayudan a identificar necesidades de salud importantes y a respaldar el increíble trabajo que ya se está realizando. Nuestro rol consiste en conectar las piezas para llenar los vacíos y que nadie quede en las brechas. Nevada, estamos aquí para ayudar. Si trabajamos en conjunto, podemos construir un futuro más saludable para todos”, afirmó Rucker.

Todas las CHNA y estrategias de implementación de Intermountain Health pueden consultarse aquí.
 
 

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Intermountain Health released its Community Health Implementation Strategy, outlining a comprehensive plan to improve health outcomes for southern Nevada’s most vulnerable populations.

The strategy builds on findings from Intermountain’s first Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in Southern Nevada, which identified mental well-being, social determinants of health, healthcare access, chronic diseases, and improving children and family well-being, as significant health needs.

The CHNA report provided extensive details about local health status, needs, and assets that allow Intermountain Health, a nonprofit health system, to inform and identify key local area health priorities. 

That initial assessment was created by Intermountain after engaging organizations that represented a broad range of interests in the Southern Nevada community.

Participants gave in-depth interviews to share their perspectives on health needs to help prioritize Intermountain Health’s work to collaborate with others in improving community health.

“The implementation strategy provides us with a clear framework as a system to address these significant health needs in collaboration with our community,” said Will Rucker, community cealth director for Intermountain Health in Nevada. “By leveraging our resources and working alongside key stakeholders, we can make a measurable impact on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

The following are areas of focus and tactics that Intermountain will deploy in collaboration with community partners. The full list is available in the Implementation Strategy document. 

1. Improving Mental Well-Being

·       Reduce suicide deaths

·       Reduce frequent mental health distress in adults and youth

·       Reduce the impact of substance misuse

Intermountain’s implementation strategy includes trainings, resources, education, funding for community groups, and collaborations with coalitions and workgroups.

“One example of this work is reducing access to lethal means by distributing approximately 575 gun locks since last June to first responders and other organizations to get out to the families,” Lisa Nichols, vice president of Community Health, said. “Because we have seen proof that creating time and distance to such a lethal means as a firearm with a person going through a crisis can save their life.”

Improving Chronic and Avoidable Health Outcomes

·       Prevent high blood pressure and diabetes

·       Increase immunization rates

·       Decrease injury for children

Intermountain Health is committed to strengthening collaborations with local organizations working to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure, decrease injury for children, and increase rates of immunization. 

Last year, Intermountain Children’s Health collaborated with Nevada Highway Patrol, SafeKids of Clark County, and first responders to bring vital attention to Nevada about the dangers of leaving children in a hot car. 

Intermountain also worked with SafeKids of Clark County as well as the Healthy Living Institute at UMC to raise awareness about the rise of dangerous counterfeit car seats.

2. Addressing and Investing in Social Determinants of Health

·       Improve social care access and coordination

·       Invest in affordable housing and improve nutrition security

·       Increase healthcare coverage and access

A key strategy in improving community health is strengthening Nevada’s Community Health Worker (CHW) program. Through a collaboration with the Nevada Community Health Workers Association, we are supporting workforce development to expand this vital role. CHWs are trained public health professionals who serve as a bridge between their community and essential health and social resources. With lived experience and deep community connections, they help break down barriers to health and well-being for those most at risk.

Improving Child and Family Well-Being

·       Improve child and family safety

·       Injury prevention

·       Child and family advocacy

Intermountain Health is committed to both the physical and mental health of children and families. This work includes collaborating with community groups, engaging with local and state officials, and implementing evidence-based programs to improve child health outcomes across southern Nevada. 

As part of this commitment, Intermountain Health last October announced plans to build Nevada’s first comprehensive stand-alone children’s hospital. The facility, set to be located in the UNLV Research and Technology Park, is projected to be completed by 2030, providing specialized pediatric care to meet the growing needs of the region.

Intermountain’s current CHNA covers the period from 2022 to 2025. Work is underway on the next CHNA, which will guide community health priorities for the following three years. 

The Intermountain Community Health team is collaborating with partners to evaluate emerging health needs to ensure the next assessment reflects the current assets and opportunities for southern Nevada. 

“Our commitment to Nevada is rooted in compassion and collaboration. The Community Health Needs Assessments and Implementation Strategy helps us identify significant health needs and support the incredible work already happening. Our role is to connect the pieces – filling gaps so no one falls through the cracks. Nevada, we are here for you. By working together, we can build a healthier tomorrow for us all,” Rucker said.

All of Intermountain Health’s CHNA and Implementation Strategies can be found here.

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