Community Health Improvement Plan promoted by county, hospital district

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The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) partnership is an innovative collaboration between Jefferson Healthcare (JHC) and Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) devoted to identifying the most pressing health priorities for Jefferson County and actions that lead to improvements.

The CHIP partnership focuses on four Jefferson County health priorities: immunizations; access to care; access to mental health and substance abuse care; and healthy eating, active living and chronic disease prevention. These priorities were identified through a rigorous community data assessment study and ranked at data assessment meetings, according to a press release.

Mike Glenn, CEO of JHC, considers the identification of health priorities for Jefferson County to have been a critical first step. “The work that went into the Community Health Assessment was phenomenal, and is a testament to how much this community values the health of its citizens. This work has really just begun to take off, and JHC is committed to seeing the process through to the implementation of appropriate changes for Jefferson County," Glenn stated in a press release.

Health care reform in Washington has a regional component called Accountable Communities of Care. Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap are completing a regional design plan for the three counties. This local CHIP process gives Jefferson County the data, direction and first step toward looking at improving health locally, yet work within the region.

Now that the health priorities have been identified, the partnership between JCH and JCPH has been convening work-group meetings specific to each of the four topics, according to a press release.

Jean Baldwin, JCPH director, reports that the work-group meetings develop actionable targets the community would be able to attain. “We have identified key priorities for moving forward, and are looking to the community to help set goals for each health priority. We have engaged community members who are interested in these topics in the workgroups.” Baldwin said.

The work-group meetings focus on identifying health priority goals and develop a strategy. Meetings take place monthly for each workgroup. To participate, or for more information, contact Karen Obermeyer at

kobermeyer@co.jefferson.wa.us. For more information on Jefferson County Public Health, the Community Health Assessment, and the health priorities that have been identified, visit

jeffersoncountypublichealth.org.