COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2019
OUR VISION:
HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT DOES A COMMUNITY NEED FROM ITS HOSPITAL? At St. Clair Hospital, we take the time to find out. We get to know our neighbors. We continually talk to families, schools, businesses and organizations throughout the region. We learn how lives are changing and what new needs must be met. These relationships often lead to partnerships that lead, in turn, to new solutions — innovations that answer current problems and help people live the best, healthiest lives possible. This Community Health Needs Assessment is the result of much discussion with many thought leaders. It is a story of important partnerships. And a process that reflects St. Clair’s very beginnings — as a hospital built by the community and one that will always have the community’s best interests at heart.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Continued Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 St. Clair Hospital’s Economic Development Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) . . . 9 A Timeline of Our Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 The CHNA Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Gathering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Defining Our Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Contributing to Our Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Evaluation of 2016 CHNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Key Viewpoints from Key Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The Critical Health Issues of 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Top 4 Priority Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 A Collective Effort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Programs and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Special Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
If you have additional questions, please e-mail us at Community@stclair.org.
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About Us
ALWAYS IMPROVING Since our beginnings in 1954, St. Clair Hospital has grown from a community hospital to an independent, acute care facility that is nationally recognized for our excellent culture, patient safety, patient satisfaction and high value. We are western Pennsylvania’s exclusive member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network. We are at the forefront of advances in clinical diagnostics and treatments, including advanced cardiovascular services, specialized care for women, oncology services, orthopedics, emergency care, urgent care, and psychiatry and mental health services. With 600 physicians and 2,500 employees, we are the largest employer in Pittsburgh’s South Hills. Over the years, we’ve evolved, progressed and innovated to bring better access, better care and better outcomes to our community. We’ve continually added new technologies, services and spaces to meet new demands, while never forgetting our roots as a hospital that offers compassionate, personal care.
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HONORS AND AWARDS
RECOGNIZED FIVE TIMES AS ONE OF THE NATION’S 100 TOP HOSPITALS®, INCLUDING 2019
EARNED 14 CONSECUTIVE
“A” GRADES FROM THE LEAPFROG GROUP FOR HOSPITAL SAFETY
THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TO RECEIVE
A 5-STAR QUALITY RATING FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES IN 2019
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Continued Growth
BUILDING ON OUR COMMITMENT From the very start, St. Clair Hospital has been devoted to making high quality health care easily accessible to everyone in our region. Today, that commitment is as strong as ever. Now we’ve embarked on the largest project in four decades — the new, state-of-the-art Dunlap Family Outpatient Center to make the patient experience more comfortable and convenient. Since 2006, our outpatient volume has increased 130 percent. Our new outpatient center will place outpatient testing and minimally invasive procedures and surgeries all under one roof, delivering significant benefits to patients, from reduced costs to an enhanced experience. With our new outpatient center, St. Clair Hospital is breaking ground in how an independent hospital continues to serve, grow, innovate, and thrive.
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Economic Development Impact
THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY HOSPITAL St. Clair Hospital plays a pivotal role in the economic health and vitality of the community, with a direct and indirect impact on the area’s economy.
DIRECT IMPACT
INDIRECT IMPACT
Hospital employment Hospital spending Emergency Department capacity Regional vitality Community health
Non-Hospital employment Regional spending State and local tax revenues State economic development support
TOTAL SPENDING HOSPITAL
$275.0 MILLION ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT
$277.3 MILLION
TAXES PAID TO THE COMMUNITY
$7.72 MILLION
COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS • Community Health Improvement Services & Community Benefit Operations • Health Professions Education • Subsidized Health Services • Cash and In-Kind Contributions • Community Support • Community Health Improvement Advocacy
$3.47 MILLION
TOTAL BENEFIT
$552.3 MILLION SALARIES HOSPITAL
$99.2 MILLION ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT
CHARITY, DISCOUNTED AND UNCOMPENSATED CARE* • Charity Care • Discounts to Uninsured/Underinsured • Unpaid Patient Expenses • Unreimbursed Medicare • Unreimbursed Medical Assistance
$41.00 MILLION
$74.6 MILLION TOTAL
$173.8 MILLION Source: The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
VALUE OF QUANTIFIABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
$44.47 MILLION
*St. Clair, in keeping with its vision, mission and values, provides financial assistance to assist low-income, uninsured and under-insured individuals who do not otherwise have the ability to pay for health care services.
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FISCAL YEAR 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
ABOUT THIS REPORT At St. Clair Hospital, we’re always looking for ways to deepen our partnerships within our community. To that end, you might call us the hub that helps. As the largest nonprofit in the South Hills, we are in a unique position to bolster the efforts of other area nonprofits. One way we achieve this is through the CHNA report. To prepare the report, we spoke with people and organizations throughout the community. We listened and learned about unmet needs and vulnerabilities. We worked to identify strengths and resources. Together, we created a plan that prioritizes pressing health issues with the goal of improving lives in the region. We couldn’t have done all this without our CHNA Community Benefit Committee, comprised of 15 members who are passionate about helping our Hospital create a healthier community. Each is a St. Clair Hospital Board Member, and all brought their unique expertise to the project. Led by chairperson, Joseph B. Smith, Sr. V.P., Marketing, Dollar Bank, and Andrea L. Kalina, Sr. V.P., External Relations and Chief Human Resources Officer, St. Clair Hospital, the committee sought the input of community leaders, stakeholders and experts. These groups generously shared their time, providing invaluable insight and guidance. Thanks to all these dedicated people, the Hospital gained a greater understanding of the complex, health-related problems we face as a community today. This report is the result of our findings. In the following pages, you’ll learn more about CHNA — our process, our discoveries and our plan to address our community’s unmet needs.
A C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H N E E D S A S S E S S M E N T H E L P S T O :
• Gauge the health status of a community; • Guide development and implementation of strategies to create a healthier community; • Promote collaboration among local agencies; and • Provide data to evaluate outcomes and impact of efforts to improve population health.
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A Timeline of Our Assessment
OUR JOURNEY Uncovering and studying the unmet health care needs of a community takes time and diligence. Over the course of three years, we spoke with experts inside and outside the region, evaluated data, prioritized needs and developed an implementation strategy.
2016
JUNE
>
The St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors approved the Fiscal Year 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy. The final CHNA report was created. An executive summary of the CHNA and Implementation Strategy was made widely available to the public, via the St. Clair Hospital website. A hard copy was also made available for community members, which they can receive upon request.
JULY
> St. Clair staff and leadership began implementing initiatives outlined in the Implementation Strategy to help
address the community’s health needs.
AUGUST 2016–JUNE 2019
>
An interdisciplinary group of St. Clair staff members — with expertise in oncology, prenatal education, mental health, access and community education — executed the initiatives outlined in the Implementation Strategy. The group met quarterly with Senior Leadership and the Community Benefit Board to discuss the progress of the programs and identify alternative initiatives for programs that did not reach the targeted outcomes.
2018
APRIL
>
St. Clair Hospital selected Strategy Solutions, Inc. to conduct its Fiscal Year 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) based on their extensive expertise and knowledge in this field.
> Strategy Solutions, Inc. began conducting qualitative research. DECEMBER > Focus groups were conducted with key community stakeholders and nonprofit partners. JULY
2019
FEBRUARY
> Public input surveys were conducted online.
>
MARCH A comprehensive review of information and statistics surrounding the pervasive health needs in St. Clair’s service region was presented to the Community Benefit Board by Strategy Solutions, Inc. JUNE
>
After reviewing the results of the Fiscal Year 2016 CHNA and taking into consideration the updated findings of the Fiscal Year 2019 report, the Community Benefit Board prioritized the initiatives that best aligned with the Hospital’s core competencies.
>
JUNE The CHNA report was created and made widely available to the public, via the St. Clair Hospital website. A hard copy version of the report was also made available for community members, upon request. JULY–AUGUST
>
St. Clair Hospital leadership developed an Implementation Strategy, based on the prioritized initiatives.
SEPTEMBER
>
The Implementation Strategy was approved by the St. Clair Hospital Community Benefit Board and made widely public via the Hospital website.
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The CHNA Process
FROM DISCOVERY TO STRATEGY Every hospital faces the challenge of keeping up with health care trends and needs. At St. Clair Hospital, the CHNA report is an effective tool for helping us meet that challenge. CHNA is a comprehensive, systematic exploration of our community’s entire health care environment. Through it, we study our whole region for a period of three years, looking closely at every geographic area and demographic group, seeking to learn where there are gaps in services and underserved groups of people. The CHNA process helps us identify and prioritize unmet health care needs and consider what we can do to address them, working to find solutions that will ultimately improve the health and well-being of the community as a whole. OUR CH NA ASKED :
OUR CHNA FOU ND ANSWE RS BY:
Who is vulnerable in terms of health care? What are the unique needs of these people? Where do these people live in the community? How do we address these problems?
– Conducting surveys, focus groups and interviews. – Studying current health care data and reports. – Reviewing assessments prepared by other regional organizations. – Collaborating with organizations and individuals throughout the region.
While we are required to perform a CHNA every three years by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), St. Clair Hospital views this report as an opportunity to strengthen community ties and further help people live the best, healthiest lives possible.
Gathering Information
CREATING A PICTURE OF OUR REGION’S HEALTH What issues are our residents facing? What does the health and wellness of our community really look like? How much has been accomplished since our previous CHNA in 2016? To get help in answering these questions, we turned to Strategy Solutions, Inc., a consulting firm that helps organizations analyze, evaluate and implement ways to achieve goals and create healthier communities.
THE DATA WE GAT HERED INCLU DED: – Demographics; – Recent research from county, state and national government entities; – Community surveys; – Stakeholder interviews; – Intercept surveys; and – Focus groups.
ABOUT STRATEGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
With this firm’s help, we were able to gather a rich and enlightening blend of data, including the perspectives of many people and partners who represent the broad interests of our community.
Strategy Solutions, Inc. delivers creative solutions to ensure the sustainability of nonprofit, public and private organizations, and to create healthy communities. Our unique approach blends analytical research capabilities, group process techniques, best practices and planning tools — resulting in remarkable outcomes.
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Defining Our Region
THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE Located in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, St. Clair Hospital has a service area that is defined by where our patients live in southwestern Allegheny and northern Washington counties. The majority of our patients come from Regions 1 and 2 on the map. Those neighborhoods are home to 48% of our population.
Moon
Coraopolis
Region 6 West Park
Coraopolis Heights Imperial
Pittsburgh
Crafton Rosslyn Farms
The remaining regions shown are home to 52% of our population. The mix of people within those regions is important to study, as well. A survey of our demographics shows the unique make-up of our patient population and helps us better understand whom we serve, day in and day out.
Oakdale
Region 2
Green Tree Carnegie Dormont
Mount Oliver Baldwin
McDonald Bridgeville
Midway
Mount Lebanon
St. Clair Hospital
Bethel Park
Region 1
Cecil
Southview
Castle Shannon Pleasant Hills
Upper St Clair
Region 4 Hickory
Library
Thompsonville
Region 3 Houston
Jefferson Borough
Strabane
Bower Hill Venetia
Region 5 West Elizabeth
McMurray
Canonsburg
Finleyville
A UNIQUE COMMUNITY WITH UNIQUE DEMOGRAPHICS Here are some facts at a glance that show the makeup of St. Clair’s community. These demographics help us to understand our patients and to offer appropriate care. For example, it is interesting to note that our region has more women than men, perhaps underscoring a need for enhancing women’s health care.
MEN
48.5%
WOMEN
51.5%
94% HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HIGHER
White, Non-Hispanic Black/African American Asian Other
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39.8% HAVE A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER
49.4%
68.8%
ARE MARRIED
HAVE WHITE COLLAR JOBS
87.7% 6.2% 3.3% 2.8%
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Clairton
Contributing to Our Community
GIVING BACK IS IMPORTANT TO US Every day, we care for people of this region. We also care about them. That’s why it’s one of our goals to make living a healthful lifestyle easier for everyone. In this vision, residents of any neighborhood would have access to health education, disease prevention, screenings and primary care. It’s a goal we actively pursue, by partnering with non-profit agencies and charitable organizations that share our values and goals, and by creating programs that improve lives.
Charity, Discounted and Uncompensated Care
Youth Programs
As a non-profit organization, St. Clair cares for everyone who enters our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Last year, the Hospital provided $41 million worth of charity, discounted and uncompensated care.
The Hospital sponsors many youth programs offered by the 14 school districts in our service area. These programs provide opportunities for children and teens to socialize with peers, engage in the arts, and participate in sports.
Donations The Hospital regularly gives donations of money or in-kind contributions to partnering agencies. Our giving priorities are driven by the needs identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment.
Speakers Bureau Recognizing that our employees possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, the Hospital has developed a Speakers Bureau that any community group can call upon.
Needle Disposal Program For safety and disease prevention, St. Clair has a needle disposal program for those who use needles, syringes and other “sharps” to manage conditions like diabetes. This free service enables people to exchange containers of contaminated needles for new, empty ones. Mentorship for Health Professions Students St. Clair welcomes many health professions students who wish to gain valuable clinical experience. Medical students, residents, nursing students and others rotate through our clinical departments, preparing for careers in health care and advancing to help communities in need.
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Evaluation of 2016 CHNA
MAKING A DIFFERENCE It’s been three years since our last CHNA report. In that time, we’ve made strides in addressing and alleviating several of the challenges we identified. Here are a few of the improvement areas we found in our 2016 report, along with highlights of what we accomplished, thanks to new and expanded programs and partnerships.
MOVING THE NEEDLE ON IDENTIFIED NEEDS SINCE OUR 2016 CHNA:
ACCESS TO CARE From 2016–2019, our complimentary Courtesy Van made a record 41,115 trips, an increase of 17.5 percent from the previous CHNA.
H E A LT H B E H A V I O R S We are providing Narcan training and Narcan kits to police and first responders. We also created resource cards for them to leave behind, providing information for four different rehab facilities.
H E A LT H C O N D I T I O N S We are providing monthly education sessions on a variety of health topics at local food pantries.
M O R TA L I T Y R AT E S From July 2016 to June 2019, we have provided 498 people with free screenings for breast, colon, prostate and skin cancer.
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Key Viewpoints from Key Partners:
MAKING AN IMPACT TOGETHER To address the critical health needs we identified in our 2019 CHNA, we teamed with regional organizations that would allow us to have the greatest impact. These groups are already making a significant difference in the health and well-being of our population. We’re excited about how our partnerships can support each other’s goals, creating better ways to bring greater health to those who need it most. In the following pages, you’ll meet three of our key partners. Through their stories, you’ll get a better idea of the challenges we face and how we’re working together to make an impact in these critical health areas.
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Paul Bacharach
Key Viewpoints from Key Partners: GATEWAY REHAB
DEALING WITH SOME SOBERING FACTS ABOUT ADDICTION “THERE’S A STIGMA THAT’S OFTEN ATTACHED TO ADDICTION, BUT ST. CLAIR SAW THIS WAS A MATTER THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. THEY’VE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM AND PROVIDED RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR A PROBLEM THAT, IN THE PAST, PEOPLE TENDED TO SHY AWAY FROM.”
– Paul Bacharach, President, CEO, Gateway Rehab
What happens when people with substance abuse disorders end up in a hospital emergency room? According to Paul Bacharach, President and CEO, Gateway Rehab, all too often doctors and nurses don’t have the understanding or training to identify these patients and then move them into treatment programs. “You can’t just give someone a brochure and expect that they’re going to make that call after they’re discharged from the hospital,” he says. “Only about 10% of patients with substance abuse disorders seek treatment.” Thanks to a partnership between Gateway Rehab and St. Clair Hospital, that dynamic is changing in our region. “St. Clair Hospital recognized that substance abuse, particularly opioid addiction, was a significant problem,” says Bacharach. “The Hospital contacted Gateway Rehab to see how we could work together to address the problem.” Gateway Rehab is one of the oldest addiction treatment providers in western Pennsylvania. It was also named as an Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence in Pennsylvania. Now, in its partnership with the Hospital, it is able to do more than ever to convince patients to go into treatment at a critical moment.
“St. Clair Hospital is providing funding for our Recovery Support Specialists to be available 24/7 on site at the Hospital,” says Bacharach. That means patients who come to the Hospital ER with substance abuse problems have the opportunity to speak with someone about treatment programs — before they’re discharged. It’s a critical moment for people with addictions. “Once they leave the acute care setting, it’s hard to recapture them and get them into treatment,” Bacharach says. The certified Recovery Support Specialists have firsthand experience with addiction. Each is going through recovery and can help patients recognize triggers and learn how to cope. These dedicated counselors work one-on-one for a full year with Hospital patients who are willing to enter the Gateway Rehab treatment program. This is just the beginning of an important partnership. Now Gateway Rehab is working on providing ongoing education to doctors, nurses and Behavioral Health staff at the Hospital. “The Hospital has been extremely supportive,” says Bacharach. “We’ve helped over 100 patients in just a year. It’s great that St. Clair has put the time and resources into improving this situation.”
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Key Viewpoints from Key Partners: OUTREACH TEEN & FAMILY SERVICES
ROLLING OUT AN IDEA THAT HELPS PARENTS SPOT SUBSTANCE ABUSE HAVING THE HOSPITAL’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT WITH THE TRAILER AND SPONSORSHIPS OF OUR EVENTS IS VERY HELPFUL. THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM ENHANCES OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY.” Mary Birks, Executive Director, Outreach Teen & Family Services
These days, being a teenager, or the parents of a teenager, is arguably more complicated than ever. It’s a change the people at Outreach Teen & Family Services have witnessed over 45 years. “We used to deal mostly with drug and alcohol concerns,” says Mary Birks, Executive Director, Outreach Teen & Family Services. “Today, the top three issues that kids come to us for are anxiety, depression and stress. With the pressures of school, family and peers, these kids need extra help.” Outreach Teen is a community counseling agency that serves children aged 5-21, as well as their parents and families. “We’re about education, prevention and
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intervention,” says Birks. “We help kids and parents in distress.” Thanks to a partnership with St. Clair Hospital, their ability to help more teens and families is expanding. Recent discussions with Hospital leadership led to a new, integrated approach to care. “Outreach Teen now meets annually with Behavioral Health Nurses in the Hospital’s ER”, says Birks. “They use us as a referral source for some of their cases. It’s a great way to get to kids before the situation becomes a crisis.” The Hospital has also shown its support by helping to fund the organization’s new Hidden In Plain Sight trailer. The trailer replicates a teenager’s bedroom, and leads parents through a scavenger hunt to find clues indicative of drug or alcohol use or abuse. The Mt. Lebanon Police Department takes the trailer to events throughout the region. “St. Clair has been diligent in looking at what the community needs and reaching out to individuals and stakeholders to make improvements,” says Birks. “I’m looking forward to an even more robust relationship.”
Mary Birks
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Jim Guffey
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Key Viewpoints from Key Partners: THE SOUTH HILLS INTERFAITH MOVEMENT
FEEDING THE NEED FOR HEALTH EDUCATION AT LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES When most people think of the South Hills of Pittsburgh, words like “poverty” and “refugees” don’t often to come to mind. Jim Guffey, Executive Director, South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), sees a different side of the region. “There are people in our community who are struggling. They are at or below poverty level. And they often have a myriad of health problems,” Guffey says. “We’re also home to the largest settlement of refugees — Nepalese and Bhutanese people who are low income and don’t speak English.” SHIM offers many programs to help. As a 51year-old non-profit, it has spent decades mobilizing community resources to make sure struggling populations get the help they need to become selfsufficient. Guffey and leaders at the Hospital see many opportunities to team up and support each other’s goals. The relationship started 10 years ago when the Hospital sponsored SHIM’s Prospect Park Health Fair in Baldwin/Whitehall. Volunteers from St. Clair attended and performed free health screenings. Today, the partnership continues, with volunteer
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL IS A UNIQUE ENTITY. THEY HAVE A VISION FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE AS A CATALYST FOR THAT.” Jim Guffey, Executive Director, South Hills Interfaith Movement
experts from the Hospital offering monthly health education talks at SHIM’s food pantries. Topics range from nutrition, diabetes, mental health and stroke to smoking cessation, breast cancer, hypertension and obesity. “The talks are always well received,” says Guffey. “They’ve been greatly beneficial and some have led to crucial interventions.” Guffey notes that the Hospital always supports SHIM’s annual fundraiser. He and St. Clair are continuously talking about more ways to partner. It’s a relationship that Guffey really values. “I know I could pick up the phone tomorrow, and they would try to help us in any way they could.”
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The Critical Health Issues of 2019
FACING THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY Getting to the bottom of the real health needs of our community isn’t a simple task. We began by delving into existing data — studies and reports about the health of our county and surrounding counties. This secondary research laid the groundwork for our 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment. After pinpointing key issues from the data, we then went on to discover which of these problems were present in our own neighborhoods. By talking to people within our own region, we were able to give voice to our community, discover our specific needs and validate findings in our initial research. While not all the needs found in the county data were discovered to exist in our own communities, we were able to identify categories of interest and key areas to focus our efforts. TO BEGI N, WE LOOKED AT NEED S UND ER THE FOLLOWING B ROAD CAT EGORIES:
• Access to Quality Health Services
• Health Environment & Conditions
• Chronic Disease & Cancer
• Healthy Women, Mothers, Babies and Children
• Physical Activity & Falls
• Infectious Disease
• Mental Health & Substance Abuse
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The Critical Health Issues of 2019
TOP 4 PRIORITY HEALTH ISSUES St. Clair Hospital is committed to serving the community through adherence to our mission, providing services that prevent disease, and working to enhance the quality of life and well-being of those we serve. As we learned in our 2016 CHNA, we can be more effective by aggressively focusing our efforts on fewer critical areas of need rather than trying to address many. We learned greater focus on fewer areas permits the Hospital’s staff to better evaluate the health need and begin to identify possible solutions for the communities we serve. IN 2019, THE FOLLOWING AREAS WERE FOUND TO BE KEY AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY:
1. Access to Quality Health Services (Healthy Women, Mothers, Babies and Children included) 2. Chronic Disease & Cancer 3. Mental Health & Substance Abuse 4. Healthy Environment & Conditions
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #1
ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES Here are the concerns our community voiced: Cost of care Lack of health insurance Transportation Appointment times Language barriers Cost of medication Cost of co-pay
IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY
9%
COULDN’T SEE A DOCTOR DUE TO COST
7%
HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE
15%
HAVE NO PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
You can’t have a healthy population without access to quality health care. Unfortunately, there are many factors that hinder people from getting the care they need. Today, there are people in our region who can’t afford to see a doctor. Some don’t have health insurance. Some lack transportation. Others can’t make appointments during regular office hours. All these factors add up to people waiting too long to seek the treatment they need. Some wait so long, they can no longer reverse the trajectory of their illness. When access isn’t affordable and convenient, people allow chronic conditions to worsen and then complications develop — often leading to emergencies and hospital admissions. TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #1, ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
• St. Clair Hospital’s complimentary Courtesy Van service will continue in areas of high need, with continued increase of “batching” of rides. • In conjunction with the Hospital’s strategic plan, St. Clair Medical Services will continue expanding its physician practices and their locations. • The Hospital will continue to create and host prenatal education videos on the Hospital website and YouTube page to reach women who are unable to attend classes in person. • As opportunities arise to work with community partners we will broaden these initiatives as resources allow. We are also open to expanding or enhancing these strategies should we have additional resources or capacity over the next three years.
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #2
CHRONIC DISEASE & CANCER Here are the concerns our community voiced: Cancer Obesity Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol Hypertension Disease prevention
Few things impact a life more than a serious health problem. Chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer affect the health of millions of people and cost billions of dollars in medical expenses every year. There is good news, though. Many of these chronic diseases can be prevented or alleviated through healthful lifestyle choices. Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and not smoking can prevent some of the most common chronic diseases and some types of cancer. Regular health screenings can also uncover chronic conditions and cancers early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
I N WASHINGTON CO U N T Y HEART DISEASE MORTALITY RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER
THAN THE STATE
OBESITY IS
TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #2, ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
A 3% RISE SINCE 2013
• St. Clair Hospital will continue to provide free screening events to the community for prostate, breast, and skin cancers. The Hospital will add colon cancer screening events to its offerings of free screenings.
29%
FEMALE BREAST CANCER INCIDENCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER
THAN THE STATE
• St. Clair Diabetes Center will continue to serve as a resource to the community, including the offering of free support groups. • St. Clair will continue to participate in community health fairs and senior expos to provide free health education and health screenings to the community. • As part of the 2016 CHNA, the Hospital began providing free health education at local food pantries and will continue to do so on an ongoing basis.
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #3
MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE Here are the concerns our community voiced: Mental health Depression and anxiety Drug abuse Opioids Stigma of drug problems Lack of providers Challenges with insurance
It’s no secret that substance use and abuse are serious problems. Drug overdose accounts for more than 100 deaths a day in our country. Heavy drinking causes liver disease and unintentional injuries. And tobacco causes more avoidable illness and death than any other substance. Sometimes these behaviors are inextricably linked to mental health. Depression, anxiety and other psychological issues can affect lives in devastating ways and need to be recognized before they become critical problems.
IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY SUICIDE MORTALITY RATES ROSE
YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IS
FROM 2011-2016
HIGHER THAN THE STATE
3.2%
5.6%
DRUG DEATHS ROSE
31.2%
FROM 2011-2016
TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #3, ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
• St. Clair Hospital will continue to offer free community-based mental health support groups in collaboration with other nonprofit mental health providers. • St. Clair will continue to work on integrating mental health services in the St. Clair Medical Services Primary Care Physician offices. Due to resources, the Hospital was unable to fully complete this initiative in its 2016 CHNA. • St. Clair began a new partnership with Mt. Lebanon Police and Outreach Teen & Family Services to provide funding for a Hidden In Plain Sight trailer, which educates parents on youth drug and alcohol abuse. • The Hospital established a new partnership with Gateway Rehab to have 24/7 access to Recovery Support Specialists for the Hospital’s patients.
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S T. C L A I R H O S P I TA L
COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #4
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS Here are the concerns our community voiced: Hunger Access to healthful food Access to fresh fruits and vegetables Poverty makes healthful foods unaffordable Transportation to food pantries Students needing free or reduced-cost lunches
IN WASHINGTON COUNTY FOOD INSECURITY IS
14%
8% HIGHER
THAN THE HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 GOAL OF 6% STUDENTS RECEIVING FREE OR REDUCED-COST LUNCHES ROSE
You can’t have a healthy community if people can’t afford to eat well. When families don’t have the money to buy healthful foods, it’s called food insecurity. Often linked to poverty and unemployment, it can lead to a distressing chain of problems. In adults, it can result in diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and major depression. TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED #4, ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
• St. Clair Hospital will conduct meetings with local municipalities within its service area to discuss how the Hospital can partner with them to create a healthier environment for their residents. • St. Clair Hospital will support community organizations whose work is conducive to creating healthier communities, and providing access to healthful foods.
10.5%
FROM 2013-2018
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H N E E D S A S S E S S M E N T 2 0 1 9
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A Collective Effort
STRONGER TOGETHER Achieving a healthier community is something we can’t do alone. That’s why St. Clair Hospital stands as the strong center of a network of organizations and agencies that share our values and goals. These are social service agencies, other hospitals, home health care providers, civic organizations, community institutions and many types of other non-profits. They are filled with experts, advocates, consumers and leaders who are knowledgeable about their fields and passionate about helping others. With mutual respect and a belief in each other’s missions, we share invaluable feedback and collaborate on a regular basis. By joining forces, we gain the power to more effectively meet the needs identified in this CHNA report and beyond.
WITH IN THE ST. CLAIR COMMUNI TY, TH ERE A RE THREE F EDERAL LY QUAL IFIED HEALTH CE NTERS Hilltop Community Healthcare Center Located in Beltzhoover, it’s a satellite of the Sto-Rox Neighborhood Family Health Center, providing pediatrics, women’s health and family medicine. Sto-Rox Neighborhood Family Health Center Open six days a week, with some extended hours, this full-service medical center treats patients of all ages. It works in partnership with Focus on Renewal, an organization centered on health and social services needs in the greater McKees Rocks community. West End Health Center This facility provides primary mental health, women’s health and dental care.
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S T. C L A I R H O S P I TA L
Programs and Services
RELIABLE RESOURCES Our region is fortunate to have hundreds of programs available to meet the health and social services needs of our community. These programs are provided by multiple agencies, coalitions and organizations. The chart below shows the approximate number of resources available within each category to serve residents of Allegheny and Washington counties. ALLEGHENY COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Housing
345
45
Personal Finances
108
23
Food
208
35
1,536
197
Clothing, Hygiene, Personal Goods
76
13
Transportation
195
22
Income and Employment
517
79
Education and Training
835
79
Mental Health
908
121
Substance Abuse
290
31
1,294
141
Government, Business and Consumer Services
148
32
Legal Assistance
782
140
Older Adults and Aging
373
62
People with Disabilities
696
115
Environment and Public Safety
31
18
1,723
296
882
103
Information Services
1,798
304
Disaster Services
1,719
294
Seasonal
29
4
Military/Veteran
137
12
8
1
Re-entry Services
628
93
Immigrant/Refugee
18
2
County RESOURCE Organization/Agency
Health Care
Children and Families
Crisis Services Resource Centers
LGBTQ
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H N E E D S A S S E S S M E N T 2 0 1 9
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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS To prepare our 2019 CHNA, we interviewed and surveyed dozens of people who are as invested in the health of our community as we are. We talked to our medical staff, Hospital staff and external stakeholders. All shared their perspectives, knowledge and expertise on community health needs, as well as their ideas for interventions and innovative programs to meet those needs. We appreciate and value everyone’s input, and acknowledge the following leaders for their feedback and thoughts. ST . CLAIR HOS PITAL COMMUNITY BENEF IT COMMITT EE MEMB ER S Joseph B. Smith Dollar Bank Chairman, Community Benefit Committee Chairman, Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital Frank Arcuri, Esq. Law Office of Frank Arcuri Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital Rachel Brecht TiER1 Performance Solutions Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital Foundation Karl E. Bushman, M.D. Mt. Lebanon Internal Medicine Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital James M. Collins President & Chief Executive Officer, St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
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S T. C L A I R H O S P I TA L
Laura L. Freedman UBS Wealth Management Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
John P. Meegan Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
David R. Heilman Omax Health, Inc. Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
John T. Sullivan, M.D. Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
Andrea L. Kalina Executive Liaison, Community Benefit Committee Senior Vice President of External Relations and Chief Human Resources Officer, St. Clair Hospital Dan Long Enscoe Long Insurance Group, LLC Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital Foundation Thomas M. Medwig Chairman, St. Clair Health Corp. Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
Thomas D. Wright, Jr., Esq. Rosetta Capital Corporation Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital G. Alan Yeasted, M.D. Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Emeritus, St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital Mark Zacur Owens Minor Board of Directors, St. Clair Hospital
COM MUN ITY LEADERS AND EX PER TS Paul Bacharach Gateway Rehab
Jim Guffey South Hills Interfaith Movement
Marianne Olschesky St. Clair Hospital
Debbie Bates Christ United Methodist Church
Keith Henderson Whitehall Borough Police
Dominic Panucci Boys & Girls Club of Western PA
Mary Birks Outreach Teen & Family Services
Nora Helfrich Tri-Community
Molly Patterson South Hills Interfaith Movement
Rachel Burdette Greenbriar Treatment Center
Deanna Hess Mt. Lebanon School District
Dr. Joseph Pasquerilla Bethel Park School District
Venard Campbell St. Clair Hospital
Kacie Jankoski American Cancer Society
Laura Pollice St. Clair Hospital
Scott Cavey Scott Township EMS
Jen Kehm Cancer Caring Center
Monica Phillips White Deer Run Treatment Network
Alaina Conner Allegheny County Department of Health
Jack Kobistek Borough of Carnegie
Mary Pinchalk City of Pittsburgh EMS
Shawndel Laughner St. Clair Hospital
Megan Rhoades St. Clair Hospital
Aaron Lauth Mt. Lebanon Police Department
Richard Sieber St. Clair Hospital
Josh McClure White Deer Run Treatment Network
Jesse Siefert MRTSA
Caitlin McNulty Brookline Teen Outreach
Kyla Tucker South Hills Interfaith Movement
Mike Miller Salvation Army Carnegie
Denis Valentine Southbridge EMS
Richard Moore Washington City Mission
Sister Janice Vanderneck Cas Jan Jose
Susan Coyle Chartiers Center Michael Daniels Canon-McMillan School District Kathe Dvorsak St. Clair Hospital Victoria Fitzpatrick St. Clair Hospital Jason Gagorik Whitehall Borough Police Sean Gorman Bethel Park Police Department
Terrence O’Brien Baldwin Township Police
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H N E E D S A S S E S S M E N T 2 0 1 9
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1000 Bower Hill Road |
Pittsburgh, PA 15243
|
412.942.4000
|
stclair.org
A SHARED VISION FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY HOW CAN WE HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US? At St. Clair Hospital, we’re teaming with others in the region to make sure that community needs are seen, heard and helped. From the very youngest to the very oldest, to those struggling with basic needs, from people with language barriers to those with cultural differences, we recognize all as our neighbors —and that all deserve compassionate, quality health care. As we prepared this 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), we engaged deeply in the problems that affect people in our community. We gained profound insights and an understanding of the roots and complexities of these problems. And we created plans to meet these challenges by partnering with people and organizations that share our passion for helping people live the best, healthiest lives possible. To us, this CHNA is an expression of our commitment to the region and a blueprint for the future that inspires us to partner, improve, innovate and advance. It is a true reflection of our mission—to provide highly valued, service-oriented health care to the community.