What is a Community Health Needs Assessment?

• A. A formal approach to identifying health needs and health problems in the community.
• B. A method for diagnosing individuals in clinics.
• C. A formal approach to identifying health needs and health problems in the community, using community engagement and collaborative participation.
• D. A method of evaluating hospital performance.

Answer: (C)

A Community Health Needs Assessment is a formal, systematic process for identifying and prioritizing the health needs and problems of a community, with active involvement from residents and local partners. It combines multiple data sources—stats, surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder input—to ensure the issues reflect what the community actually cares about. This emphasis on community engagement and collaborative participation is what makes the approach distinct: it isn’t about treating individuals or evaluating hospital performance, but about understanding population health needs and guiding actions to address them. CHNAs are typically used to inform community benefit planning and drive coordinated efforts to improve health outcomes through partnerships and implemented strategies.