Goshen Health has completed its 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The health system collected primary and secondary data to obtain an accurate account of the health concerns in the Goshen Health service area. These efforts included engaging in conversations with the community through surveys, focus groups and key informant interviews. A Community Advisory Council, consisting of community leaders and Goshen Health Colleagues, utilized the data sources to identify and prioritize the community’s current health needs.
Randy Christophel, President and CEO of Goshen Health stated, “Goshen Health has a long-standing commitment to recognizing and responding to the health needs of the communities it serves. The CHNA, completed every three years, is an essential tool for meeting this commitment to the community.”
The Community Advisory Council established the following list of nine priority community health needs: mental health, substance abuse/addictions, obesity/weight management/nutritional issues, lack of insurance coverage, financial hardship, limited health services access/capacity, treatment of chronic conditions, lack of health education and lack of family/social supports. This multidisciplinary group, including leadership from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, Elite Emergency Physicians, Elkhart County Health Department, Goshen College, Goshen Community Schools, Goshen Fire Department, Oaklawn and Vista Community Health Center, evaluated the data sources and set priorities based on the community and its specific needs.
Goshen Health is developing response strategies to enhance and support the community related to these priority areas. The overarching goal is to create long-term interventions, frequently through partnerships, to continuously improve community health and wellness.
Christophel added, “Our goal is to develop both short and long-term plans that improve community health and wellness through broad-based engagement, healthcare education, preventive services and compassionate intervention. We are committed to partnering with our community to bring about positive changes in health and wellness.”
The community is invited to review the full CHNA report at: https://goshenhealth.com/about/reports-downloads/community-health-needs
For more information, please contact CommunityEngagement@GoshenHealth.com or 364.2496.
