Helping Rural Hospitals Better Understand and Serve Their Communities

Rural hospitals play a vital role in improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve. Understanding local health needs, access challenges, and community priorities is essential to developing meaningful strategies that strengthen care delivery and improve outcomes.

ICAHN’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) services provide rural hospitals with the data, insight, and support needed to complete a comprehensive and effective assessment process. Since Community Health Needs Assessments became a requirement for many hospitals under the Affordable Care Act, ICAHN has assisted more than 100 member and non-member hospitals across Illinois.

Our approach goes beyond regulatory compliance. ICAHN works with hospitals to use the CHNA process as a strategic tool that supports community engagement, informs organizational priorities, and helps guide future investments that improve community health.
ICAHN utilizes a systematic, data-driven approach to complete the CHNA process. ICAHN staff facilitates all phases of the projects and helps hospitals coordinate arrangements for focus groups and other group meetings. In addition to CHNA services, ICAHN also offers customized services, including specialized surveys, health data analysis by service area, and technical assistance for community action development.

The experience of the ICAHN staff allows the organization to provide hospitals with a well-coordinated process and successful outcome at a modest cost.

Comprehensive CHNA Support

ICAHN utilizes a systematic, data-driven approach to guide hospitals through every phase of the CHNA process. Our experienced staff coordinates project activities, facilitates community engagement efforts, and provides support from planning through final reporting. Services include:

  • Community health data collection and analysis

  • Focus group and stakeholder meeting facilitation

  • Community surveys and engagement support

  • Service area health analysis

  • Strategic priority identification

  • Community action planning assistance

  • Final report development and documentation support

ICAHN also offers customized services tailored to the unique needs of rural hospitals and communities.

More Information

Begin the CHNA Process

  • Curt Zimmerman

    Senior Director - Business Services and Development
    815-503-1731

    Peer Groups: Chief Financial Officers

    Email Curt

Designed for Rural Communities

ICAHN understands the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural healthcare organizations. Our team brings experience working alongside rural hospitals to develop practical, meaningful assessments that align community needs with organizational strategy and long-term health improvement goals.

By combining data analysis, community engagement, and rural healthcare expertise, ICAHN helps hospitals develop a clear understanding of the needs of the populations they serve.