Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Yuma District Hospital and Clinics--Yuma County, CO

As one of only two hospitals in Yuma County, Yuma District Hospital and Clinic (YDHC) can ascertain its community’s health through the County Health Needs Assessment (HNA). In 2009, an HNA identified some of the biggest health problems in Yuma: poverty, obesity, lack of accessibility to healthy foods, lack of physical activity and related chronic diseases. Beginning in 2012, YDHC’s Board of Trustees developed a plan to reduce obesity and related chronic illnesses by developing a park adjacent to YDHC that would be accessible to the entire community and would increase physical activity and social cohesion. Within the region, the park has become a success, pointing to YDHC’s future as an inspirational health institution.

This case study is provided by Active Living By Design, an organization that delivers multidisciplinary expertise in public health, public policy, urban planning and design, community development, communications, nutrition, architecture and social work.