title: Faith-based health needs assessment: implications for empowerment of the Faith community.
abstract: Churches are often caught in the middle of the struggle between health care institutions and managed care organizations. A faith-based center of excellence model is proposed that would establish a middle ground between the secular and "sacred" aspects of health care. Such a model would focus on using the faith community to influence the behavior and lifestyle of persons within the organized public health model, thus providing a new model of ministry. This process can increase an understanding of the tools needed for the clergy to be better caregivers, more influential co-change agents, and more informed about data-driven outcome ministry. This integrated process is critical for real change in health outcomes, for the improvement of primary prevention, and for reducing disease mortality.
authors.affiliation: Faith-Based Center for Excellence, Nashville, TN 37214, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D013714:Tennessee