Agenda - 03-09-1999 - III-B - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

69 Assessment means the regularcollection, analysis and sharing ofinformation abouthealth conditions, risks andresourcesmacommunity. Theassessmentfunctionisneededtoidentifytrendsmillness ,injuryanddeath and the factors which may cause these events. It is needed to identify available health resources and their application, unmet needs, and community perceptions about health issues. Through the assessment function, a series of questions are addressed: * What are the major health problems? * What population groups are at risk? * How are risks distributed geographically? * What services are available? * What is the quality of available services? * Are health resources adequate? * What do citizens perceive to be health concerns? * What do providers perceive to be community health issues? Assessment results are then shared with the community, policy makers and the health care community for the purpose of developing resources and health policies to solve community health issues. State Role In most instances the state is responsible for establishing and maintaining surveillance systems, collecting and assembling health status and utilization information, and performing analysis. Expertise is needed at the state level forcomparative analysis and forecastingregional and state trends. The state department of health also needs the capacity to provide technical assistance to local health departments for local forecasting and interpretation of data. Finally ,the state tofheathprovidesleade<s hipmcommunicatingabouthealthisscesandconcernswith the public, generates public awareness through the news media, and issues state health reports. Local Role Local health departments are responsible for serving as collectors of the local data needed for their own services and by the state to assemble a picture of the health status of their jurisdiction's citizens. In addition to data, local health departments assess citizens' perceptions of community health status, or what people believe to be the most important health issues facing their community. Local health departments perform health resource inventories, hold public forms, conduct polls, collect information from private and non -profit providers, and engage in research. With the assistance of the state, local health deparanents provide local interpretations andfarecastsofhealthstatus and other related information, and serve as the repository of such information for the junsdictim served. Local health departments provide leadership at the local level in disseminating information to the public on community health status. It is their responsibility to provide information directly to the news media and community officials, and to publish easily understood reports.