IPRA has started Free eye (OPD) at our office for relief to poor community and planning for General OPD also.

The benefits of community health programs are numerous. Improving the availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare in a particular area leads to a better quality of life for community residents.

However, developing health programs that effectively engage the community can be difficult for healthcare administrators. The goal of these initiatives is to meet the needs of the community, but it can be challenging just to identify those needs, let alone establish programs residents will actually use.

Read on to discover four ways healthcare administrators can improve community health planning and create a program that effectively promotes safety, healthy lifestyles, injury prevention and early detection of health conditions.

1. Listen to the Community
It may be tempting to assume you know what types of services your community needs, especially if you’ve been working in the local healthcare system and interacting with community residents for several years. However, try to put your personal biases aside and instead ask the citizens what matters most to them. This can prevent the implementation of underused programs and wasted investments.

2. Adjust Existing Programs When Necessary
After a program has been in place for a few months, evaluate its effectiveness and make the necessary adjustments. For example, if your fliers and posters about healthy eating didn’t change behaviours, you might decide a more hands-on approach is needed. Turning a vacant lot into a community garden offers a simple way to increase residents’ access to fresh produce and helps them get a little exercise at the same time.

3. Partner with Local Organizations
Costs are always a concern when creating new programs. Partnering with your local government, businesses and community groups is an excellent way to share expenses. For example, converting an unused railway into a walking and biking trail may be too expensive if your team bears the entire cost. But financial support from other organizations can help decrease the amount for which your facility is responsible, increasing the possibility of completing the project. Creating a partnership with your local municipality and recreational organizations can not only reduce your costs but also improve community engagement.