Assess the health care needs of a selected community by completing an environmental analysis and a virtual windshield survey. Summarize the results of your assessment in a 2-3 page executive summary.

Introduction

Health care must be evidence-based, effective, efficient, and affordable; it must provide resources that meet the needs of the community. Nurse leaders must understand and thoroughly evaluate the environment to enable the efficient and equitable allocation of resources. A useful tool for this type of assessment is commonly called a windshield survey. Windshield surveys are what you might expect from the name. They are a way of gathering information about specific aspects of a community while driving around, such as the condition of roads, buildings, and housing.

This assessment provides an opportunity to examine the prevailing health conditions and social determinants of health in a community by completing an environmental analysis and a virtual windshield survey based on communities within the Vila Health system. Although Vila Health is a virtual lab, the communities represented in this simulation are real, enabling you to conduct an actual community health assessment.

Preparation

Executive leaders at Vila Health have asked you to provide them with your assessment of the health conditions in one of the communities served by the Vila Health system. Knowing that a windshield survey is needed to validate any underlying assumptions about the needs of the community and inform evidence-based decision making and strategic planning, you have decided to conduct a first-hand exploration of the community, followed up by an environmental analysis. An environmental analysis examines the factors that can influence the performance of a health care organization, which is important in a rapidly changing health care environment.

To prepare for the assessment, you are encouraged to begin thinking about how an environmental analysis and windshield survey contribute to assessing community health care needs. In addition, you may wish to:

The following resource is required to complete the assessment.

Vila Health is a virtual environment that simulates a real-world health care system. In the various Vila Health scenarios, you will apply professional strategies, practice skills, and build competencies that you can apply to your coursework and in your career. The information you gather in this scenario will help you to complete the assessment.

TEMPLATES

Use this template for your community health assessment.

Requirements

Complete this assessment in two steps:

1. If you have not already done so, complete the Vila Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey simulation.
2. Write an executive summary of your community health assessment, based on your windshield survey and environmental analysis.

The community health assessment requirements outlined below, correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide, so be sure to address each point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. The Guiding Questions: Assessing Community Health Care Needs document provides additional considerations that may be helpful in completing your assessment. In addition, be sure to note the requirements below for document format and length and for citing supporting evidence.

• Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a community from a public health perspective.
• Analyze the environmental factors affecting population health in a community.
• Identify the social determinants of health in a community.
• Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis findings for executive leaders.
• Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
• Support findings and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence.

Document Format and Length

• Use the Community Health Assessment Template. This APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] can help you in writing and formatting your assessment. If you would like to use a different worksheet for your community health assessment, obtain prior approval from faculty.
• The executive summary portion of your survey and analysis should be 2–3 pages in length.
• Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to all source citations and references.

Supporting Evidence

Cite 3–5 credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or professional industry publications to support your executive summary.

Additional Requirements

Proofread your executive summary before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your assessment.

Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save your community health assessment to your ePortfolio.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

• Competency 1: Identify the challenges and opportunities facing health care.
  • Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a community from a public health perspective.
  • Analyze the environmental factors affecting population health in a community.
  • Identify the social determinants of health in a community.
• Competency 4: Develop proactive strategies to change the culture of the organization by incorporating evidence-based practices.
  • Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis findings for executive leaders.
• Competency 5: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
  • Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
  • Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence.

Vila Health: Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey

Effective health care leadership relies on assessments based on reliable information. One key tool is the windshield survey —with a practiced eye, one can make valuable judgments about the health conditions of a community while performing a mobile survey.

In this simulation, you will conduct a virtual windshield survey in either a rural or an urban environment. You will also be provided with resources to help you begin the environmental analysis of one of the two communities. You will use the information you gather to inform your proposal for changes to the health care system.

RURAL:

Shopping Plaza

310 El Dorado Dr.

While economic conditions are overall good in Jordan, there are vacancies and empty buildings both downtown and in outlying shopping areas.

Scott County Library – Jordan

275 Creek Ln. S.

The Jordan public library is open four days a week (Mon & Wed 1-8; Tue & Thur 10 – 5) from May to September and five days (Saturday 10 – 2) from September to May.

St. Francis Health Services

265 Creek Ln. S.

St. Francis Health Services is aligned with Allina Health and Park Nicollet Health Services, two of the largest health providers in the region. The facility provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care.

River Valley Education Center

100 Hope Ave.

Provides students in grades 5-8 with academic and social skills instruction. These students may have average or above-average learning potential but have been unsuccessful in other special education settings.

Jordan High School

600 Sunset Dr.

Jordan High School has a student population of approximately 540 students. The school offers athletics, arts programs, and academic extra-curricular activities. Students can also attend vocational classes through Southwest Metro Educational Cooperative where they can earn credit at vocational schools and North Hennepin Community College.

Jordan Middle School

500 Sunset Dr.

The Jordan public schools offer a student and family friendly single campus. The renovated middle school opened in 2015 and is adjacent to the Jordan Community Education and Recreation Center (CERC).

Jordan Community Education and Recreation Center

500 Sunset Dr.

Completed in January 2016, the new Community Education and Recreation Center includes a 3-gym station with a multipurpose floor, an elevated walking track, a fitness center, community locker rooms, and a community room with kitchenette.

Residential Area

Timber Ridge Court, just north of Sunset

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Located near the High School, this neighborhood is characterized by large lots, well maintained homes, and an abundance of recreational vehicles and boats.

Jordan Elementary School

815 Sunset Dr.

Jordan Elementary School offers programs and specialists in Special Ed, ESL, Title One services, Gifted and Talented, and a variety of other interventions and enrichment programs. Technology is embedded in the daily curriculum in order to encourage the development of 21st century learning skills.

Oak Terrace Senior Living

622 Aberdeen Ave.

Oak Terrace Senior Living of Jordan is a retirement community that offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.

URBAN:

Cave Vin

5555 Xerxes Ave. S.

An upscale neighborhood restaurant, Cavé Vin is a family owned local restaurant with a French and new-American menu.

Armatage Elementary School

2501 W. 56th St.

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Armatage Montessori School is a public magnet in Southwest Minneapolis. The Montessori education method is designed to offer child-centered environment that encourages children’s natural learning impulses.

Armatage Community Center

2500 W. 57th St.

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The Armatage Community Center participates in the Minneapolis Summer Meal Program for youth 18 and under.

Grading Rubric:

1-  Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a community from a public health perspective. 

Passing Grade:  Assesses, via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a community from a public health perspective. Specifies applicable safety concerns and the limitations of the survey. 

2-  Analyze the environmental factors affecting population health in a community. 

Passing Grade:  Analyzes the environmental factors affecting population health in a community. Clearly articulates key health issues, opportunities, and threats. Conclusions are well-supported by credible evidence. 

3-  Identify the social determinants of health in a community. 

Passing Grade:  Identifies the social determinants of health in a community. Draws well-reasoned conclusions from credible evidence and articulates underlying assumptions and uncertainties. 

4-  Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis findings for executive leaders. 

Passing Grade:  Summarizes environmental analysis and survey findings for executive leaders. Information is detailed, accurate, and logically organized. Provides insightful lessons learned. 

5-  Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style. 

Passing Grade:  Writes clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style. Main points, ideas, arguments, or propositions are well-developed and engaging. Adheres to all applicable disciplinary and scholarly writing standards and conventions. 

6-  Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence. 

Passing Grade:  Supports assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence. Skillfully combines error-free source citations with a perceptive and accurate synthesis of the evidence.