Health Improvement Organization Conducting Community Health Assessment

April 15, 2011 

Jackson, Mich. — The Health Improvement Organization (HIO) is conducting a Community Health Assessment (CHA) survey to gather information about the health of Jackson County residents.

“The CHA expects to survey 1,000 adults throughout Jackson County by phone on topics that will range from insurance coverage to food consumption. The new survey will help us collect more specific data related to general health and our priority areas of nutrition, physical activity, emotional health, and smoking,” said Dr. Amy Schultz, director of Prevention and Community Health at Allegiance Health. Every call is private and confidential. It only takes about 20 to 30 minutes to gather information that will help build programs and find funds to benefit Jackson.

The first Community Health Assessment was conducted from November 2007 to March 2008 to gather information on the health status of Jackson County. Over 1,000 Jackson County residents age 18 and older responded to a 180-question survey about their health status, insurance coverage, personal health habits and health care experiences.

Data collected helps the HIO to:

  • Collect and analyze health information for our County (including subpopulations within our County)
  • Measure Jackson’s health status against other communities, the state and the nation
  • Prioritize health issues within the community
  • Create a system for sharing this data with community organizations and residents
  • Implement strategic planning to address these issues through collaborative activities
  • Monitor the impact of health initiatives on community health outcomes

The Health Improvement Organization (HIO) was founded by Allegiance Health in 2000 to improve the health status of the community through a compact among patients, physicians, employers, the health system and the health plan. The HIO strives to transform the health of Jackson County through strong partnerships and coordinated efforts. The HIO builds on existing strengths and resources to support momentum, sustain success, and champion a culture of health in our community.

For more information about the Community Health Assessment or the HIO, please visit www.myHIO.org or contact Amy Schultz, MD, MPH, Director of Prevention and Community Health at Allegiance Health at 780-7306.