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Discussion Suppers as a Means for Community Engagement
Author(s) -
Faust Linda A.,
Blanchard Lynn W.,
Breyfogle Dale A.,
Baroni Jill K.,
Reed Rajika E.,
Young Mark J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2005.tb00068.x
Subject(s) - community health , health care , public relations , process (computing) , population health , community engagement , quality (philosophy) , nursing , psychology , medicine , public health , political science , computer science , law , operating system , philosophy , epistemology
Purpose: This paper describes how Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN), a large tertiary care urban hospital, used discussion suppers as a means for community engagement designed to lead to community health improvement. An overview of the implementation of the project is described. Project: In 1996, with an awareness of the need to address population‐based health improvement, the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust and LVHHN undertook a multiyear, multidimensional effort to improve health and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Data were obtained via a series of community and health assessments. Action‐Oriented Community Diagnosis and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, a national instrument, are 2 assessments discussed. The community was engaged through a series of discussion suppers in which community data were shared in a friendly, interactive fashion. The process included community definition of priorities from the data and the subsequent determination of corresponding actions (programs). Conclusions: The success of these activities demonstrates the discussion suppers were an effective approach and that data can be shared with rural areas in ways that build partnerships and provide a basis for joint actions. This is increasingly important as communities expect our health care systems to provide care both within the hospital as well as outside its walls.