Collaboration

Collaboration to Improve Community Health

Sakakawea Medical Center and Coal Country Community Health Center are part of a unique operating model designed to maximize the use of available resources and provide quality services in our communities.

In March 2011, the two organizations created an arrangement that outlined an integrated management and governance model. This model encourages communication and transparency between the two organizations while simultaneously meeting the programmatic and regulatory requirements that each individual organization must operate under. Specifically, this model

• defines a shared CEO that optimizes community/service area leadership and the sharing of other resources.
• requires two board members to serve on the other organization’s board to ensure transparency and remain focused on improving the delivery of healthcare.
• allows the organizations to collaborate in strategic planning and conducting community health needs assessments and improvement plans.

The results of this relationship are seen in the reduction and elimination of duplicative health services along with improved care coordination and use of resources. Ultimately, these benefits allow both entities to provide services in a more cost-effective and efficient manner while improving quality and health outcomes.

Community Health Needs Assessment

Every three years, SMC works with area health care organizations to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment for the service area. The purpose of the CHNA is to identify opportunities to improve the health of our communities and meet the needs of area citizens.

Sakakawea Medical Center, Coal Country Community Health Center, Knife River Care Center, Custer Health, Southwestern District Health Unit, and Mercer County Ambulance collaborate with the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health to gather input from community members and create an actionable plan that will improve health in the surrounding communities.

2022 Community Health Needs Assessment
2022 CHNA Implementation Plan
2019 Community Health Needs Assessment
2019 CHNA Implementation Plan
2016 Community Health Needs Assessment
2016 CHNA Implementation Plan