Opportunities to Improve Community Mobility through Community Health Needs Assessments
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
As a part of the Affordable Care Act, tax-exempt hospitals are required to perform community health needs assessments (CHNAs) every three years to identify the obstacles to improving community health, and then to create an action plan to address those obstacles. CHNAs, if used correctly, can be a helpful tool for communities. They identify important opportunities to improve public health by ensuring that hospitals have critical information needed to accurately meet the needs of their population. They also provide a unique chance to improve the coordination of hospital benefits with other services and initiatives, with the goals of improving community health, well-being, and equity in access to healthcare services.

DESCRIPTION
This research provides an overview of CHNAs, examples of what steps certain communities, guided by their CHNAs, have taken to address mobility challenges, and what, if any, impact such strategies have had. The report also identifies opportunities and strategies for mobility professionals to play a greater role in the CHNA process and engage local healthcare entities in community mobility issues.

LESSONS LEARNED
Community engagement is at the core of the CHNA process. It is vital for hospitals to remain accountable and responsible to community stakeholders who contribute time and energy to the process. Mobility professionals who remain engaged in the process have the opportunity to improve overall engagement and partnership with not only the local hospital, but other stakeholders in the process as well. It is important for mobility sector representation in CHNA discussions to bring both awareness and understanding of the impact of overall mobility on health and well-being.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
It is critical for mobility professionals understand CHNAs and the mobility challenges that local hospitals articulate. By doing so, mobility professionals can apply their expertise to improving health outcomes in their communities. To help, this report explains CHNAs, what steps certain communities, guided by their CHNAs, have taken to address mobility challenges, and what, if any, impact such strategies have had. The report also identifies opportunities and strategies for mobility professionals to play a greater role in the CHNA process and engage local healthcare entities in community mobility issues.

NEXT STEPS
The research outlines three key steps mobility professionals can take to begin to leverage the CHNA process to improve transportation access for patients and all community residents: 1) Identify your local hospital(s) and review their past CHNAs, 2) Create a relationship with your 2 local hospital, clinic, or healthcare system, and 3) Invite healthcare leaders to transportation planning meetings.

Presenter: Alexandra King
Agency Affiliation: Community Transportation Association of America

Presenter Biographical Statement: [biography]