The Community Health Services Development (CHSD) project is a community health needs assessment process that helps Montana Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) engage members of their rural communities, identify and measure the community’s health needs, recognize potential gaps in healthcare services, and develop specific strategies to prioritize and address the health needs that were identified during the CHSD process.

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CHSD Data Hub
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Current CHSD Projects
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Rural Health Resources

CHSD involves a steering committee to actively engage community members, a random sample mailed survey, local focus groups and key informant interviews, and an implementation planning process with the hospital’s leadership team. In recent years, the CHSD process has been modified to comply with the IRS 990 Schedule H requirements for CAHs to provide community benefit to their service area. To date, over 40 communities in Montana have used the CHSD process to conduct a community health needs assessment to inform their hospitals’ community benefit plan and improve the overall health of their community.

 

Our Philosophy

We believe healthcare is a local affair. In rural communities, affordable, high-quality care isn't just desired—it's essential for the health of everyone. We see it as the community's responsibility to champion this health, recognizing that local problem-solving is key to the survival of rural health services.

Objectives

A community health needs assessment (CHNA) is a systematic process that involves the community to identify and analyze community health needs and assets. The process also involves prioritizing needs and laying the groundwork for action to address unmet community health needs. 

The CHSD process assists rural hospitals in conducting a meaningful CHNA, helping the facility to achieve various objectives, such as: 

  • Ensuring Accountability: Demonstrating a clear commitment to community well-being.

  • Maximizing Community Input & Engagement: Bringing diverse voices to the forefront of health planning.

  • Assessing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): Understanding the broader factors—like economic stability, education, and environment—that influence health outcomes.

  • Informing Health Service & Delivery Planning: Guiding the development of services that truly meet local needs.

  • Gathering Real-Time Montana Rural Health Information: Providing up-to-the-minute insights into the unique health landscape of rural Montana.

  • Identifying Specific Health Priorities: Pinpointing the most critical health needs and access barriers for Montana's rural communities.

  • Supporting Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs): Helping CAHs meet IRS 990 Schedule H reporting requirements, which are essential for developing robust community benefit plans and maintaining their vital nonprofit, tax-exempt status.

Outcomes

We have partnered with 45 of the 48 Critical Access Hospitals in Montana in conducting their CHNA and implementation plans.  Many facilities having completed the CHSD process multiple times.