Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Hospitals Commit to Population Health

More than 90 percent of U.S. hospitals are committed to population health. This is according to a recent survey conducted by the AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust and the Association for Community Health Improvement. The survey asked hospitals to self-assess their commitment to population health—from “no commitment” to “total commitment.” Survey findings show that though large hospitals (300+ beds) were only slightly more committed to population health than small hospitals (˂100 beds), urban hospitals were more likely to be committed to population health. Nearly 75 percent of hospitals “totally” committed to population health have developed initiatives to address the socioeconomic determinants of health, per the survey. To improve population health, hospitals reported partnering with federally qualified health centers and community clinics; other hospitals; public health departments; health insurance companies; and healthy community coalitions. The survey elicited responses from more than 1,400 hospitals and addressed how population health initiatives are structured, partnerships with community organizations, and the process of assessing community health needs.                                                                                                                                                       
To read complete results of the survey, click here.