1. Institute of Medicine’s Community Health Improvement Process (CHIP)

2. What is a CHIP?
A CHIP is a Community Health Improvement Process that can also be used for building a healthy community.
CHIP is slightly different from other similar processes in that it incorporates accountability into the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the community health improvement efforts it fosters.

3. Why use a CHIP? It takes a community perspective.
It’s inclusive and participatory.
It demands a comprehensive view of health.
It sees equity as key.
It’s flexible.

4. Why use a CHIP? (Continued)
It builds in accountability.
It builds in performance monitoring.
It can incorporate or fit in with other models.
It sees the process as ongoing and long-term.

5. Who should be part of a CHIP?
Those who are directly affected by the issue at hand.
Those whose lives or jobs will be affected by the
CHIP effort.
Change agents.
Influential people.
Community members at large.

6. How do you implement a CHIP?
Incorporate IOM’s general guidelines:
Define health broadly.
Develop specific quantitative measures and hold responsible groups accountable to them.
Balance long- and short-term goals.
Include all stakeholders and other potential contributors to the work in assessment, planning, and implementation.
A CHIP should be centered in a community health coalition or similar entity.

7. How do you implement a CHIP?
(continued)
1. Incorporate IOM’s general guidelines (continued):
State and local public health agencies should assure that a community health improvement process is in place in all communities.
State health agencies, in cooperation and collaboration with local health departments, should assure the availability of community- level data needed for health profiles.
States and the federal government should require that appropriate private entities report standard data on their enrolled populations, to facilitate the CHIP.

8. How do you implement a CHIP?
(continued)
Form an inclusive, participatory coalition or coordinating group, or tie into one that already exists.
Do your research.
Identify the issue(s) you’re going to work on.
Analyze the issue(s) carefully.
Take stock of potential resources, particularly those already available in the community.
Develop a strategic plan and action plans to carry it out.

9. How do you implement a CHIP?
(continued)
Agree on who will be accountable for which parts of the plan.
Work out how accountability will be monitored.
Implement your strategy.
Monitor both the process and the outcomes of your effort.
Maintain your gains.
Start the cycle again, with another issue.