Chair File: Community-centered Partnership Advances Health Equity

The work of a Washington D.C. collaborative of hospitals and FQHCs is benefiting the entire community, particularly the most vulnerable residents. Children's National Health System, Howard University Hospital, Providence Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital and federally qualified health centers work together as part of the District of Columbia Healthy Communities Collaborative (DCHCC). The DCHCC works to reduce health care disparities and increase health equity for vulnerable D.C. populations. Using results from a community health needs assessment, the collaborative developed a community health improvement plan to address the identified needs. DCHCC sponsors “DC Health Matters,” an interactive web portal that provides actionable health information, resources, best practices and information about community events. DCHCC members share resources to advance health, which contributes to an effective, efficient and community-centered partnership. In 2016, dchealthmatters.org had more than 8,240 unique visitors, 11,372 visitors (sessions) and 29,884 pageviews. Actionable community health data ensure the collaborative is focusing on areas with the largest health disparities.

For more information, contact Marti Bailey, director, Sibley Senior Association and Community Health, Sibley Memorial Hospital, at mbaile35@jhmi.edu. Read more in the AHA 2016 Committee on Research report “Next Generation of Community Health.”