Hunterdon partnership for health: A new model linking assessment, collaboration and technology

This presentation describes the two year implementation of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded initiative that involves the collaboration of a county-wide coalition (Hunterdon Partnership for Health) in a community based needs assessment. Described is a more efficient model of conducting community assessments and implementation of the 'CHIP' through linking multiple assessments and secondary data online through a public health information exchange (PHIE or data sharing depository) and implementation software. Additional innovations include linking the local medical center's electronic health record's data on immunizations with the PHIE in preparation for the ARRA Stage 2 and Stage 3 deliverables which include data sharing with public health entities. Authors will share experiences in using Web 2.0 applications including a community Wiki, health education blogs along with interface to a community based Facebook group for enhancing community awareness of local public health initiatives. Evaluation of this initiative involved the use of a pre-post organizational network analysis which determined the extent to which improvements were made in: 1) increased membership to the Hunterdon Partnership for Health; and 2) building/strengthening organizational partnerships in prevention efforts. Last, authors will discuss the need to merge traditional community assessments with online technologies that foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and community participation along with increased community member recognition of the face of public health.