Community Health Needs Assessment

A Message from the Chief Health Improvement Officer

Dora Anne Mills Dear Community Partners,

I am very excited to announce the completion and approval of eight Community Health Implementation Plans for 2019-2021 at each of our MaineHealth local health systems (LHS), including Spring Harbor Hospital/Maine Behavioral Healthcare.

The Implementation Plans are based on the results of the Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), community forums held in every region, and the work of each LHS mapping out a three year plan of action. MaineHealth is proud of the work of teams at each LHS, as well as the entire system at MaineHealth and community members in harnessing collective resources to develop these plans.

The findings of the Maine Shared CHNA Reports show mental health and substance use, social determinants of health, and access to care are among the top health priorities identified in almost every county in the MaineHealth local hospital system, as well as across the state. Other priorities include healthy aging, obesity/Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL), tobacco and nicotine use, cardiovascular disease, and chronic disease.

Social determinants of health, which are community and societal factors that negatively influence health, are newly identified as a priority this time. Examples of these include hunger, poverty, transportation, housing, social isolation and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Over the next three years we will strive to work on priorities and strategies laid out in these plans to address our leading health challenges together. Take some time to read the Executive Summary plus all of the Implementation Plans, CHNA Reports, and county health profiles for MaineHealth local health systems below. Additional information is also available, including an interactive site, at Maine Shared CHNA.

We appreciate the effort, goodwill, and community support that has contributed to these important reports and we look forward to “working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.”

Best regards,

Dora Anne Mills, MD, MPH
Chief Health Improvement Officer
MaineHealth

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Reports

Per federal IRS regulations, not-for-profit hospitals are required to conduct community health needs assessments in three-year cycles. MaineHealth hospitals' first cycle was for fiscal years 2013-2015 (more specifically, for October 2012-September 2015).

Below, Community Health Needs Assessment reports are provided for MaineHealth network hospitals. Each report:

Provides county-level data on close to 200 health measures – such as rates for smoking, substance abuse, obesity, high blood pressure and childhood immunizations.
Summarizes conversations by diverse community stakeholders, who reviewed the data for their county and shared ideas to address pressing health needs.
Offers a detailed, three-year action plan developed by each MaineHealth hospital for improving public health in the communities we serve.

Annual progress reports about health improvement actions implemented are also provided below.