Cape News

Saint Francis Healthcare System has completed its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), and the findings are now accessible for public review. The CHNA is a requirement for not-for-profit hospitals under the Affordable Care Act, necessitating an assessment every three years to maintain federal tax-exemption status. This process helps identify community health needs and mandates the adoption of strategies to address them.

The assessment involved both primary and secondary research over several months. Primary research consisted of four focus groups conducted in Cape Girardeau, Scott, and Stoddard Counties—areas with the highest inpatient admissions to Saint Francis Medical Center in 2024. An extensive consumer survey gathered over 500 responses from residents of Southeast Missouri, providing insights into perceived critical health needs.

Secondary research included data extraction from various federal, state, and local sources. This data reflects established healthcare research and statistical information on regional health needs.

After collecting all data, the CHNA team employed a customized multi-factor prioritization process to identify the region's most pressing needs. Sixteen community health and service organizations participated in this process. The top four priority areas identified were chronic disease, affordable medications, healthy food access, and healthcare capacity.

The CHNA report includes an executive summary and an implementation plan detailing how Saint Francis Healthcare System intends to address these priority needs. The full reports are available at sfmc.net/chna.