Community Needs Assessment Process

Sutter Health’s community benefit efforts are based on identified needs within a community needs assessment. The needs assessment, typically conducted every three years, is a collaborative process often including all health care providers, public health departments and other community organizations dedicated to creating a healthier community.

The needs assessments generally include:

• Quantitative data


• Qualitative data
• Direct community input

Identified needs vary and can include issues that require community attention to such topics as:

• Disease prevalence
• Housing issues


• Domestic violence
• Smoking


• Transportation
• Education

Results from community needs assessments assist our hospitals in targeting areas of focus and are utilized to draft community benefit plans.