EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) helps health leaders evaluate the health and wellness of the community they serve and identify gaps and challenges that should be addressed through new programs, services and policy changes. This report was developed as part of the Health ENC coalition's collaborative, regional 2024 CHNA process. Health ENC -- a group of stakeholders who help find ways to collaborate and share resources to improve the health of the population in eastern North Carolina -- served an integral role in making this comprehensive assessment possible. The report adheres to North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation standards, as well as Internal Revenue Service requirements for not-for-profit hospitals.

Vision Statement

Through collaboration between the Health ENC Steering Committee, Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS), Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, and ECU Health hospitals, the 2024 CHNA process aspires to create a healthier eastern North Carolina where collaborative action, shared resources, and community engagement converge to eliminate health disparities and build resilient, connected communities that support wellbeing for generations to come.

ARHS CHNA Leadership

The ARHS district had leadership representation from a variety of healthcare organizations for its 2024 CHNA process including Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS), Sentara Albemarle Medical Center (SAMC), ECU Health, Healthy Carolinians of the Albemarle, Gates Partners for Health, and Three Rivers Healthy Carolinians.

ARHS CHNA Partnerships

The 2024 CHNA process for ARHS included a variety of different stakeholders who assisted with community engagement activities, provided feedback, and participated in the prioritization process. A summary of the partner organizations who participated in the process is below.

The Health ENC Steering Committee and ARHS CHNA Leadership contracted with Ascendient Healthcare Advisors to coordinate the regional CHNA process, including primary and secondary data analysis, relevant trainings for county partners and development of the contents of this report.

CHNA Timeline and Process

The Health ENC 2024 process formally kicked off with a collaborative meeting of all participating counties on February 8, 2024. It concluded with the delivery of final CHNA reports to all 34 counties on December 20, 2024. The process included collection and analysis of both primary data (focus groups and community surveys) and secondary data (from various public sources).

Secondary (existing) data came from various public sources related to demographics, social determinants of health, environmental health, disease trends, behavioral health trends, and individual health behaviors. Data was evaluated using the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's population health framework and compared to state or national benchmarks to identify areas of concern. Top needs identified through secondary data included physical and behavioral health concerns, community safety, food access, and family/community support.

Primary (new) data was collected through focus groups and a web-based survey, gathering feedback from 416 people who live, work or receive healthcare in the ARHS district. Primary data identified behavioral health (particularly substance use), employment and income, healthcare access, physical health (chronic diseases, cancer, obesity), and transportation as top needs.

Representatives from the ARHS district worked together to identify the priorities each county should focus on over the following three-year period. Leaders evaluated the primary and secondary data collected throughout the process to identify needs based on the size and scope, severity, the ability for hospitals or health departments to make an impact, associated health disparities, and importance to the community. Although it was not possible for every single area of potential need to be identified as a priority, representatives collaborated to identify three priority areas to focus on over the next three years, evaluating data based on scope, severity, ability to impact, health disparities, and community importance. The three priority health needs selected (in alphabetical order) are:

The ARHS district also compiled a Health Resources Inventory, which describes a variety of resources available to help county residents meet their health and social needs.  

Following completion of this report, health leaders throughout the district will use its findings to collaborate with community organizations and local residents to develop effective health strategies, new implementation plans and interventions, and action plans to improve the communities they serve.