AMCNO Participates in the Ohio Department of Health State Health Assessment

The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) physician leadership and executive staff are pleased to be a part of a statewide group working with the Ohio Department of Health to develop a Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). Stakeholders from around that state have already completed a State Health Assessment (SHA). The health assessment includes ten areas of focus organized in two sections – with the first section including data on the leading causes of death in Ohio; the prevalence of certain chronic, communicable, and infectious diseases; and the rates of different types of injuries. The second section includes potential causal factors (i.e. , the risk factors most frequently experienced by Ohio residents, the degree which Ohioans are following recommendations for health screenings and other preventive care, and the social and physical environmental conditions Ohio’s residents experience that might be affecting their health.  

The SHA is the first step in a two-part planning process that has been implemented to identify and address the population health needs of the residents of Ohio. Step two involves the creation of the SHIP, which will identify and prioritize the goals and objectives for improving the health of all Ohioans based on the indicators contained in the health assessment. Once the SHIP is completed it will be utilized to develop a strategic public health plan, assist local health jurisdictions with data collection, and establish quality improvement projects with the goal of the Ohio Health Department (ODH) to become accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). As this process moves forward, the AMCNO will continue to participate and provide information to our members.