Discussion suppers as a means for community engagement.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes how Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN), a large tertiary care urban hospital, used discussion suppers as a means for community engagement designed to lead to community health improvement. An overview of the implementation of the project is described.


METHODS
In 1996, with an awareness of the need to address population-based health improvement, the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust and LVHHN undertook a multiyear, multidimensional effort to improve health and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Data were obtained via a series of community and health assessments. Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, a national instrument, are 2 assessments discussed. The community was engaged through a series of discussion suppers in which community data were shared in a friendly, interactive fashion. The process included community definition of priorities from the data and the subsequent determination of corresponding actions (programs).


CONCLUSIONS
The success of these activities demonstrates the discussion suppers were an effective approach and that data can be shared with rural areas in ways that build partnerships and provide a basis for joint actions. This is increasingly important as communities expect our health care systems to provide care both within the hospital as well as outside its walls.
Faust
Linda A
LA
Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA 18105-7017, USA. linda.faust@lvh.com
Blanchard
Lynn W
LW
Breyfogle
Dale A
DA
Baroni
Jill K
JK
Reed
Rajika E
RE
Young
Mark J
MJ
D003142:Communication; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010414:Pennsylvania; D015397:Program Evaluation