MACON COUNTY 2024 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COMMUNITY RESULTS STATEMENT
Macon County’s health matters.

LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP FOR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROCESS
During 2024-2025, Macon County Public Health, Angel Medical Center, and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital have facilitated the development of this comprehensive Community Health Assessment by engaging multiple organizations and community members; by outlining the need for certain decisions and interventions; and by creating a positive environment for discussion and change. Please see page 2 for a list of participating agencies and their roles.

REGIONAL SUPPORT
Our county participates in WNC Healthy Impact. This partnership brings together hospitals, public health agencies, and key regional partners in western North Carolina to improve community health. We work together locally and regionally to assess health needs, develop plans, take action, and evaluate our progress. This regional effort is coordinated by WNC Health Network, a non-profit that exists to support people and organizations to improve community health and well-being across western North Carolina. Learn more at www.WNCHN.org.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK/MODEL
WNC Health Network supports local hospitals and public health agencies working on complex community health issues. Community Health Assessment and Improvement processes include the use of Results-Based Accountability™ (RBA). RBA is a practical approach that focuses on achieving real improvements for people, agencies, and communities. The framework relies on both primary (story and number data) and secondary data to provide a comprehensive understanding of community health.

COLLABORATIVE PROCESS SUMMARY
Macon County’s collaborative process is supported on a regional level by WNC Healthy Impact. Locally, the CHA team guides our process. This team reviews the data and provides input into health issues of concern. Data summaries for the identified health issues are then brought forth to the community, where health priorities are confirmed. Phase 1 officially began in January 2024 with collecting health data. 

KEY FINDINGS
The Community Health Assessment Coordinator with support from WNC Healthy Impact compiled a list of data filters to be used when viewing the data. While reviewing the data health indicators were scored and ranked based on size and severity while taking into consideration any disparities that might be noted. It was very apparent that the top ten health indicators could be grouped into health issues of concern. Once the top issues of concern were determined a data summary document was created for each.
The Community Health Assessment (CHA) Team then reviewed each data summary independently and as a group virtually to fill in any information gaps. The CHA team was also instrumental in helping to shape the community prioritization meeting.
Community members met in January 2025. During this time background information regarding types of data collected, the review process, the Community Health Assessment Teams role was provided. Community members were able to review each data summary for the health issues of concern and ask questions or provide input. Members then ranked the health issues based on impact and feasibility. The group then discussed benefits and downsides of combining issues into the health priorities, keeping capacity to address each issue in mind. Then members voted on how to structure the health priorities for the 2024 assessment.

HEALTH PRIORITIES
● Priority 1 – Mental Health
● Priority 2 – Housing Affordability & Safety
● Priority 3 – Food Insecurity

NEXT STEPS
CHA leadership and partners will work with community members to better understand the story and root causes behind our priority health issues. New and existing partners will be engaged to help to do better on these issues.
We will identify what works to do better through research on evidence-based strategies, observing what is working in other communities, and engaging priority populations. Strategies will be selected, as well as performance measures to ensure that residents are better off because of them.
The Community Health Improvement plan will be developed as an electronic scorecard and published so that teams and the community at large can monitor progress.
 

HEALTH PRIORITIES
● Priority 1 – Mental Health
● Priority 2 – Housing Affordability & Safety
● Priority 3 – Food Insecurity