SERVICES:
HCSEF services fundamentally have one key goal: to improve the health and health status of residents of the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast, including the counties of Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River. Our services include but are not limited to:
Who Are Our Clients?
Partner Agencies:
Strategic Planning and Direction
For over three decades, our experienced health planning research department has provided strategic planning and direction to Health and Human services organizations helping them to achieve its strategic health planning and organizational goals. We work in collaboration with county health departments, regional health planners and health professionals, primary care providers and others to conduct health utilization studies and manage the “Certificate of Need” hearing process for hospitals and nursing homes in the Treasure Coast.
Our strategic planning is multi-faceted and encompasses:
Program Development
A key element of HCSEF’s approach is the groundwork we lay in developing effective health promotion programs and program evaluation methods, including conducting a SWOT analysis to inform healthcare interventions. Our skilled subject matter experts employ rigorous methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform decision making. Our service offerings include survey development, project design, data collection, analysis and reporting among other quality improvement activities.
Community Health Needs Assessments
Health Needs Assessments are a systematic method of identifying unmet healthcare and human service needs of a population and may be used as the basis for designing and developing health promotion and disease prevention programs and for identifying possible interventions to meet those needs. HCSEF conducts quality community health needs assessments that help organizations and communities more effectively understand the need, demand and provision of health and healthcare services in the communities they serve.
Rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach to health need assessments, HCSEF uses evidence-based models that are grounded in best practices, culturally sensitive and community-driven. Examples of these are The National Public Health Performance Standards Program, Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), or Popular Empirical Assessment of Community Health (PEACH). Quantitative and qualitative rigorous methods are used to gather up-to-date primary and secondary data.
Data often includes demographic and socioeconomic community profiles, health status indicators and health resource and availability that may identify areas of concern and can point to opportunities for improvement; where systemic policy changes may have the greatest impact in communities. Community Health Needs Assessments (CHA) most often includes the following health planning and improvement activities:
Contact us to see how we may assist you in meeting your Needs Assessment Needs Today!
Click here to view the Okeechobee Community Health Needs Assessment
Click here to view the Indian River Community Health Needs Assessment
Healthcare Data and Information Management
The Health Council of Southeast Florida collects, analyzes and warehouses real-time healthcare utilization and population status data submitted by hospitals and nursing homes in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River counties in Florida. HCSEF collects psychographic data by zip code, conducts qualitative and quantitative research, interprets and analyzes social determinant data by state and county.
We offer healthcare utilization subscription services to subscribers representing a myriad of professions. These individuals look to the quality data generated by our health data staff to assist in planning and reviewing medical services that enhance the lives of individuals and families in our five county regions.
Healthcare professionals, companies, government agencies and organizations can now receive our healthcare utilization on a real-time basis using our online subscription services. For consultants, and those with less demanding needs, or specialized needs, we generate customized utilization reports on request that are easy to use and understand.
For more information about health information data sets and creation of customized reports, please call or email us.
GIS Mapping
The Geographic Information System (GIS) is a database management and mapping technology that organizes and stores large amounts of information. GIS adds the dimension of geographic analysis to information technology by providing a relational interface between the data and map allowing information to be presented to key decision makers quickly and effectively. The Health Council of Southeast Florida, brings you the latest and most effecting planning tools in house to provide internal GIS Mapping capacity.
The Council will utilize GIS mapping to help determine the geographic distribution of diseases, walk ability analysis, transportation planning, mapping populations at risk, analyzing resource availability and allocation, planning and targeting interventions and monitoring diseases and interventions over time.
For more information about GIS mapping projects, please call or email us.
Hospital Inpatient, Emergency Department, Ambulatory, & Rehabilitation Service Data
Comprehensive health, demographic and economic data are just some of the statistical elements considered in most immediate and long term planning projects. HCSEF accesses national and state statistical data warehouses that allow us to rely on up-to-date information focusing on those areas beyond our primary service area for comparison purposes. For more information please contact us.
Hospital and Nursing Home Utilization Reporting
HCSEF collects monthly utilization data from licensed hospitals and nursing home facilities for the five counties in our service region. In this program, medical facilities use either our automated online database to report required data or provide written reports relating to daily bed utilization. In addition to occupancy statistics, facilities report data such as reason for hospitalization, and payer source data. Data entered into the database undergoes quality assurance checks. This data may also be used to estimate the need for services for the region under the Certificate of need (CON) Program. (See Certificate of Need)
HCSEF reports on a quarterly basis to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Data reports are available for purchase by subscription or by requesting individual customized reports. Please call us at 561-844-4220 or contact us via email.
Certificate of Need
The Certificate of Need (CON) is a regulatory process that requires certain healthcare providers to obtain state approval before offering specific new or expanded services. A certificate of Need is required by the Agency for HealthCare Administration (AHCA) for example, if a hospital wishes to establish a comprehensive medical rehabilitation program, increase the number of licensed beds at a healthcare facility, or to establish tertiary services, such as a neonatal intensive care unit.
The CON process is intended to ensure that new services proposed by healthcare providers are needed for delivering quality patient care at a reasonable cost within a particular region or community. HCSEF provides support for the Florida Certificate of Need (CON) program, including facilitating public hearings on proposed CON projects under review.
Health providers requiring a certificate of need for certain types of projects include:
Upon request, the CON Office will determine if a project must be submitted for review. Please contact James McLemore at 850-412-4401 or via e-mail for a determination. For more information on Florida’s CON process, please visit Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration or call us at 561-844-4220 or email us.
Training and Professional Development
The Health Council of Southeast Florida offers a wide variety of educational seminars and training opportunities to health professionals, hospitals, not-for profit community-based organizations. Upcoming training events will be posted on our website. Pre-registration will be required. Please check our events calendar for upcoming seminars.
Program Evaluation
The Health Council of Southeast Florida, as mandated by the state, monitors and evaluates the adequacy, appropriateness and effectiveness of local, state, federal and private funds distributed to meet the needs of the medically indigent and other underserved population groups. An integral part of any health initiative is a strong program design and the ability to assess and evaluate the performance outcome of the effort.
Our program evaluations often include process and outcome evaluations that assess whether or not the intended program has achieved its stated objectives, reached target populations, and determine the success of the program as a whole. Some examples of evaluation programs may be: disease prevention and management programs, such as diabetes and asthma control; immunization or well-baby care programs for at-risk populations; or patient navigation programs. For more information about our Program Evaluation Services, please call or email us.
Community Organizing:
Community participation is an integral part of community health planning. The Health Council of Southeast Florida engages community health partners and key stakeholders to:
Bring attention to effective health promotion strategies with special focus on evidence-based best practices;