Marshall Health Network shares a common value ― providing excellent care that promotes lifelong good health. St. Mary's Medical Center (SMMC) has a long tradition of caring for the needs of the communities it serves. SMMC continually assesses how it serves communities and, as part of its mission, is dedicated to on-going education regarding health and well-being. SMMC provides a number of outreach activities on a regular basis.
Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) meet the regulatory requirements and guidelines for not-for-profit health care organizations, according to the community benefit provisions for tax-exempt hospitals recently established by the Internal Revenue Service and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Not-for-profit healthcare providers must conduct a community health assessment at least once every three years. A CHNA must account for the community’s broad interests and include individuals with expertise in public health. The CHNA must be made widely available to the public, and an action plan must be developed that identifies how the assessment findings are being formally implemented.