1. Assessing Community Health Care Needs
Assess the health care needs of a selected community by completing an environmental
analysis and a virtual windshield survey. Summarize the results of your assessment in a 2-3
page executive summary.IntroductionHealth care must be evidence-based, effective,
efficient, and affordable; it must provide resources that meet the needs of the community.
Nurse leaders must understand and thoroughly evaluate the environment to enable the
efficient and equitable allocation of resources. A useful tool for this type of assessment is
commonly called a windshield survey. Windshield surveys are what you might expect from
the name. They are a way of gathering information about specific aspects of a community
while driving around, such as the condition of roads, buildings, and housing.This
assessment provides an opportunity to examine the prevailing health conditions and social
determinants of health in a community by completing an environmental analysis and a
virtual windshield survey based on communities within the Vila Health system. Although
Vila Health is a virtual lab, the communities represented in this simulation are real, enabling
you to conduct an actual community health assessment.PreparationExecutive leaders at Vila
Health have asked you to provide them with your assessment of the health conditions in
one of the communities served by the Vila Health system. Knowing that a windshield survey
is needed to validate any underlying assumptions about the needs of the community and
inform evidence-based decision making and strategic planning, you have decided to conduct
a first-hand exploration of the community, followed up by an environmental analysis. An
environmental analysis examines the factors that can influence the performance of a health
care organization, which is important in a rapidly changing health care environment.To
prepare for the assessment, you are encouraged to begin thinking about how an
environmental analysis and windshield survey contribute to assessing community health
care needs. In addition, you may wish to:Review the assessment requirements and scoring
guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete.Review
Guiding Questions: Assessing Community Health Care Needs [DOCX], which includes
questions to consider and additional guidance on how to successfully complete the
assessment.The following resource is required to complete the assessment.Vila Health:
Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey.Vila Health is a virtual environment that
simulates a real-world health care system. In the various Vila Health scenarios, you will
apply professional strategies, practice skills, and build competencies that you can apply to
your coursework and in your career. The information you gather in this scenario will help
you to complete the assessment.TEMPLATESUse this template for your community health

2. assessment.Community Health Assessment Template [DOCX].RequirementsComplete this
assessment in two steps:If you have not already done so, complete the Vila Health:
Environmental Analysis and Windshield Survey simulation.Write an executive summary of
your community health assessment, based on your windshield survey and environmental
analysis.The community health assessment requirements outlined below, correspond to the
grading criteria in the scoring guide, so be sure to address each point. Read the
performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.
The Guiding Questions: Assessing Community Health Care Needs document provides
additional considerations that may be helpful in completing your assessment. In addition,
be sure to note the requirements below for document format and length and for citing
supporting evidence.Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a
community from a public health perspective.Analyze the environmental factors affecting
population health in a community.Identify the social determinants of health in a
community.Summarize windshield survey and environmental analysis findings for
executive leaders.Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form
and style.Support findings and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence.Document
Format and LengthUse the Community Health Assessment Template. This APA Style Paper
Tutorial [DOCX] can help you in writing and formatting your assessment. If you would like
to use a different worksheet for your community health assessment, obtain prior approval
from faculty.The executive summary portion of your survey and analysis should be 2–3
pages in length.Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to all source citations and
references.Supporting EvidenceCite 3–5 credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or
professional industry publications to support your executive summary.Additional
RequirementsProofread your executive summary before you submit it, to minimize errors
that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of
your assessment.Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save your community health
assessment to your ePortfolio.Competencies MeasuredBy successfully completing this
assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies
and assessment criteria:Competency 1: Identify the challenges and opportunities facing
health care.Assess, via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a community
from a public health perspective.Analyze the environmental factors affecting population
health in a community.Identify the social determinants of health in a
community.Competency 4: Develop proactive strategies to change the culture of the
organization by incorporating evidence-based practices.Summarize windshield survey and
environmental analysis findings for executive leaders.Competency 5: Communicate
effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style consistent with
applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.Write clearly and concisely
in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.Support assertions, arguments,
propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence. Vila Health:
Environmental Analysis and Windshield SurveyEffective health care leadership relies on
assessments based on reliable information. One key tool is the windshield survey —with a
practiced eye, one can make valuable judgments about the health conditions of a
community while performing a mobile survey.In this simulation, you will conduct a virtual

3. windshield survey in either a rural or an urban environment. You will also be provided with
resources to help you begin the environmental analysis of one of the two communities. You
will use the information you gather to inform your proposal for changes to the health care
system.RURAL:Shopping Plaza310 El Dorado Dr.While economic conditions are overall
good in Jordan, there are vacancies and empty buildings both downtown and in outlying
shopping areas. Scott County Library – Jordan275 Creek Ln. S.The Jordan public library is
open four days a week (Mon & Wed 1-8; Tue & Thur 10 – 5) from May to September and five
days (Saturday 10 – 2) from September to May. St. Francis Health Services265 Creek Ln.
S.St. Francis Health Services is aligned with Allina Health and Park Nicollet Health Services,
two of the largest health providers in the region. The facility provides a full range of
inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. River Valley Education Center100 Hope
Ave.Provides students in grades 5-8 with academic and social skills instruction. These
students may have average or above-average learning potential but have been unsuccessful
in other special education settings. Jordan High School600 Sunset Dr.Jordan High School has
a student population of approximately 540 students. The school offers athletics, arts
programs, and academic extra-curricular activities. Students can also attend vocational
classes through Southwest Metro Educational Cooperative where they can earn credit at
vocational schools and North Hennepin Community College. Jordan Middle School500
Sunset Dr.The Jordan public schools offer a student and family friendly single campus. The
renovated middle school opened in 2015 and is adjacent to the Jordan Community
Education and Recreation Center (CERC). Jordan Community Education and Recreation
Center500 Sunset Dr.Completed in January 2016, the new Community Education and
Recreation Center includes a 3-gym station with a multipurpose floor, an elevated walking
track, a fitness center, community locker rooms, and a community room with
kitchenette. Residential AreaTimber Ridge Court, just north of
SunsetPreviousNext123Located near the High School, this neighborhood is characterized by
large lots, well maintained homes, and an abundance of recreational vehicles and
boats. Jordan Elementary School815 Sunset Dr.Jordan Elementary School offers programs
and specialists in Special Ed, ESL, Title One services, Gifted and Talented, and a variety of
other interventions and enrichment programs. Technology is embedded in the daily
curriculum in order to encourage the development of 21st century learning skills. Oak
Terrace Senior Living622 Aberdeen Ave.Oak Terrace Senior Living of Jordan is a retirement
community that offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.URBAN: Cave
Vin5555 Xerxes Ave. S.An upscale neighborhood restaurant, Cavé Vin is a family owned
local restaurant with a French and new-American menu. Armatage Elementary School2501
W. 56th St.PreviousNext12Armatage Montessori School is a public magnet in Southwest
Minneapolis. The Montessori education method is designed to offer child-centered
environment that encourages children’s natural learning impulses. Armatage Community
Center2500 W. 57th St.PreviousNext12345The Armatage Community Center participates in
the Minneapolis Summer Meal Program for youth 18 and under.Grading Rubric:1- Assess,
via a windshield survey, the general condition and needs of a community from a public
health perspective. Passing Grade: Assesses, via a windshield survey, the general condition
and needs of a community from a public health perspective. Specifies applicable safety

4. concerns and the limitations of the survey. 2- Analyze the environmental factors affecting
population health in a community. Passing Grade: Analyzes the environmental factors
affecting population health in a community. Clearly articulates key health issues,
opportunities, and threats. Conclusions are well-supported by credible evidence. 3- Identify
the social determinants of health in a community. Passing Grade: Identifies the social
determinants of health in a community. Draws well-reasoned conclusions from credible
evidence and articulates underlying assumptions and uncertainties. 4- Summarize
windshield survey and environmental analysis findings for executive leaders. Passing
Grade: Summarizes environmental analysis and survey findings for executive leaders.
Information is detailed, accurate, and logically organized. Provides insightful lessons
learned. 5- Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and
style. Passing Grade: Writes clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate
form and style. Main points, ideas, arguments, or propositions are well-developed and
engaging. Adheres to all applicable disciplinary and scholarly writing standards and
conventions. 6- Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant
and credible evidence. Passing Grade: Supports assertions, arguments, propositions, and
conclusions with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence. Skillfully combines error-free
source citations with a perceptive and accurate synthesis of the evidence.