Guides/Tools/Case Studies
Find our guides, case studies and toolkits in this library of resources.
Community Investment: Moving from Transactions to Transformation
December 2022
Hospitals and health systems are working to address the upstream, root causes of health inequities by making investments to improve the health and well-being of communities for the long-term. This blog explores real-world examples from leaders in the field and insights on how to approach this work.
Improving Health Equity Through Medical-Legal Partnerships
2020
Medical-legal partnerships are one approach to help at-risk patients address social needs and resolve legal issues that affect their health and well-being. This issue brief discusses how medical-legal partnerships can support vulnerable populations, and highlights case examples and resources.
Protecting Individuals Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19
2020
Lanc Co MyHome, a cross-sector collaboration and coalition housed at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in Pennsylvania, brings together more than 200 partners to address housing challenges for vulnerable populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the coalition has developed several initiatives, including process to help identify, treat and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the most vulnerable individuals.
Community Collaboration During COVID-19: Reaching Hmong and Latino Residents in a Rural Setting
2020
In rural north central Wisconsin, messaging about the COVID-19 pandemic was not consistently reaching the Hmong and Latino communities. A group of local and state organizations are working together to meet this challenge. Key approaches include building on existing partnerships and relationships, identifying community liaisons to help build trust and share accurate health information, and using technology effectively.
Feeding the Community in a Time of Need: The AMI Farm at Augusta Health
2020
Augusta Health has aligned its data-informed community health strategies on nutrition and physical activity with its clinically integrated network, which has improved its capacity to understand and meet emerging needs related to COVID-19.
Established Community Partnership Pays Off During COVID-19
2020
Loyola Medicine has maintained a strong partnership with its neighboring communities in Chicago’s near western suburbs. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health system-community partnership was already helping residents in these economically-challenged communities in many ways, including providing nutritious food on a more regular basis. But the coronavirus outbreak has not slowed down the partnership’s efforts of leveraging innovation to help improve the lives of community residents.
Supporting a Community-Driven Response During the Pandemic
2020
A group of community members in Jackson, Michigan routinely mobilized to address equity and socioeconomic issues prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The strong collaboration between these residents, community organizations and Henry Ford Allegiance Health (HFAH) served as the catalyst to quickly identify emerging issues and operationalize effective action to meet urgent community needs during COVID-19.
Healthy St. Landry Alliance Leads Coordinated Community Response During COVID-19 Pandemic
2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, Opelousas General Health System in Louisiana knew it would need to collaborate effectively with the community and local government to help manage the region’s response. As a member of the Healthy St. Landry Alliance, a consortium of more than 25 local health care providers, government agencies, faith-based organizations and community groups aimed at improving community health, OGHS was able to quickly identify health disparities further exacerbated by COVID-19 and provide necessary support and services.
Bright Spots from the Field
January 2020
In partnership with 100 Million Healthier Lives, the AHA developed case studies highlighting community health and population health improvement initiatives focused on housing, food, education, community partnerships and much more.
Community Health and Equity Resources at the American Hospital Association
September 2019
The AHA is focusing on several areas, including health equity and eliminating care disparities, violence and workplace safety, health system and community collaborations to advance health, and social determinants of health. AHA is working to build on this agenda through innovative campaigns and initiatives, strategic alliances, initiatives, publications and annual awards.
CHNAFinder
An AHA-member only map based tool, with aggregated information on priority health needs collected from over 3,000 community health needs assessments (CHNAs) and implementation strategies.
Screening for Social Needs: Guiding Care Teams to Engage Patients
June 2019
This tool from the AHA's Value Initiative helps hospitals and health systems facilitate sensitive conversations with patients about their non-medical needs that may be a barrier to good health.
Members in Action
The AHA is supporting the Accelerating Investments for Healthy Communities initiative to study and discusses how hospitals are addressing social determinants through investments in affordable housing.
Making the Case for Hospitals to Invest in Housing
May 2019
The AHA is supporting the Accelerating Investments for Healthy Communities initiative to study and discusses how hospitals are addressing social determinants through investments in affordable housing.
A Trustee’s Guide to Population Health: Building New Foundations Linking Care with Community
February 2019
AHA’s Trustees Services video series is dedicated to increasing understanding and engagement of population health strategies among trustees.
Social Determinants of Health Virtual Expedition Modules
January 2019
Developed in collaboration with the Public Health Foundation, this case study features WellSpan Health's approach to addressing mental health issues in the community they serve.
Youth Violence Prevention: Working Together to Keep Communities Safe
November 2018
The impact of youth violence on communities is widespread and long lasting. However, there are many ways to make a positive impact. This compendium, which includes case studies of initiatives to combat youth violence drawn from AHA member hospitals and health systems, illustrates just a few of the most innovative and effective efforts currently underway.
Taking Action: Leveraging Community Resources to Address Mental Health
July 2018
Developed in collaboration with the Public Health Foundation, this case study features WellSpan Health's approach to addressing mental health issues in the community they serve.
Beyond Clinical Walls: Partnering to Address Mental Health
July 2018
INTEGRIS shares strategies and practices of partnering with organizations outside of the health system to recognize and address mental health. ACHI developed this case study in collaboration with the Public Health Foundation.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health Presentation
June 2018
This presentation deck helps your organization and community better understand how social determinants impact your patients and neighbors, as well as provide examples and strategies of what hospitals are doing to address this important issue.
Transportation and the Role of Hospitals
November 2017
This guide, part of a series on addressing the social determinants of health, provides strategies and examples to address patients’ transportation issues and improve health and health care access.
Stem the Tide: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
October 2017
This toolkit, released by the AHA, provides guidance and information to hospitals and health systems on how they can partner with patients, clinicians and communities to address the opioid epidemic. Developed with input from a multidisciplinary team of front-line clinicians and subject matter experts, the toolkit includes links to guidelines, training, webinars, reports and other resources
Hospital-Community Partnerships to Build a Culture of Health: A Compendium of Case Studies
September 2017
This compendium is a resource developed by the AHA, offers examples of successful hospital-community partnerships from across the U.S. These collaborations are addressing emerging health care issues beyond the four walls of hospitals and improving health outcomes.
Housing and the Role of Hospitals
August 2017
The second guide in a series on the social determinants of health, “Housing and the Role of Hospitals” provides strategies to address housing instability and improve community and population health. This guide recommends a step-by-step pathway for hospitals to consider when developing housing programs.
A Playbook for Fostering Hospital-Community Partnerships to Build a Culture of Health
July 2017
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the AHA developed a playbook of effective methods, tools and strategies to create new partnerships and sustain successful existing ones. The playbook also incorporates lessons learned from HRET’s Learning in Collaborative Communities cohort, 10 communities from across the U.S. with strong, successful hospital-community partnerships.
Food Insecurity and the Role of Hospitals
June 2017
This guide, released by the American Hospital Association,is the first in a series of forthcoming resources about addressing the determinants of health to improve community health. This guide shares insights on the complex issue of food insecurity and describes how food insecurity can increase the risk for chronic diseases, affect child development and increase health care costs.
Next Generation of Community Health
February 2017
This report explores what the next generation of community health may look like as hospitals redefine themselves to keep pace with the changing health care landscape.
Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities
November 2016
Recognizing the need for new integrated and comprehensive health care delivery and payment strategies, the AHA Board of trustees created the Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities.The task force report outlines nine emerging strategies that can help preserve access to health care services in vulnerable communities.
Creating Effective Hospital-Community Partnerships to Build a Culture of Health
August 2016
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), this guide focuses on how hospitals and communities can develop and sustain partnership
Applying Research Principles to the Community Health Needs Assessment Process
July 2016
This guide, released by the Health Research & Educational Trust with support from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, focuses on applying research principles to the community health needs assessments (CHNA) process.
Engaging Patients and Communities in the Community Health Needs Assessment Process
March 2016
This HPOE guide is a collaboration with the Association for Community Health Improvement and the Health Research & Educational trust, with support from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, presents a model for engaging patients, their families and community members at each step of the CHNA process.
Hospital Approaches to Interrupt the Cycle of Violence
March 2015
Hospitals and care systems are uniquely positioned to play an integral role preventing violence in their communities. Evidence shows that hospital-based violence intervention programs reduce violence, save lives and decrease health care costs. This guide offers hospital leaders a model for hospital-based violence intervention that can be tailored to each community’s unique needs.
Approaches to Population Health in 2015: A National Survey of Hospitals
August 2015
To support hospitals embarking on their population health journey, the Health Research & Educational Trust and the Association for Community Health Improvement, in partnership with the Public Health Institute, conducted a nationwide survey of hospitals and health care systems to assess the state of population health efforts in 2015.
Hospital-based Strategies for Creating a Culture of Health
October 2014
Hospital-based Strategies for a Creating Culture of Health provides background on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s vision to build a Culture of Health and discusses how hospitals are contributing to community health improvement. The guide reports the findings of AHA’s review of 300 community health needs assessments, provides strategic considerations for hospital engagement in community health improvement and offers a model of the hospital’s role in building a culture of health.
Building a Culture of Health
Creating a culture of health requires community partnerships with every major stakeholder contributing to a common good. This infographic presents the diverse roles that hospital leaders can play in building a culture of health and highlights key points summarized in October 2014 report “Hospital-based Strategies for Creating a Culture of Health”
Engaging Patients and Communities in Community Health Assessments
When hospitals engage community members and patients in the community health assessment process, both hospitals and communities reap benefits. The infographic, “Engaging Patients and Communities in Community Health Assessments,” illustrates these benefits and describes different levels of community engagement.
Hospital-Identified Priorities in Community Health Needs Assessments
Working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this infographic summarizes the findings of a review of 300 community health needs assessments related to identifying priority health needs and hospital partners in the October 2014 report “Hospital-based Strategies for Creating a Culture of Health." Additionally, the infographic "Building a Culture of Health" provides a summary of the entire report.
Population Health Definition
There is often confusion around what is meant by the term “population health.” The AHA offers a definition of the term as well as the goals and processes that hospitals should consider as they implement population health strategies.
The Second Curve of Population Health
March 2014
This guide builds upon prior American Hospital Association reports that outlined a road map for hospitals and care systems to use as they transition to the second curve of population health. Though the rate and extent to which hospitals and care systems engage in population health may vary, a significant shift toward population health is anticipated in the next three to five years. The tactics described in this guide provide a framework for initiatives that hospitals and care systems could pursue to develop an institutional infrastructure that supports population health.
Trends in Hospital-based Population Health Infrastructure
The American Hospital Association conducted a national survey of hospitals’ organizational infrastructure and staffing as they pertain to population health. Survey results detailed in this report reveal great heterogeneity in how hospitals and care systems structure and implement population health management.