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Our Health Priorities

Working Together to Solve Big Problems

Utah has one of the healthiest populations in the United States. Yet persistent problems like diabetes, suicide, opioid addiction, and limited rural health care access continue to plague the state. Community engagement gives us the opportunity to address these issues.

Every three years, we join a broad coalition of community representatives, civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, and residents to identify our greatest health needs. The resulting Community Health Needs Assessment outlines our collective priorities—and then becomes our north star.

In effect, the CHNA helps us understand what the community's health needs are. This invaluable gold mine of information helps us improve quality of life, health, and well-being in Utah. Working together, we can have the biggest impact on the communities we serve.

Four Areas of Focus

Diabetes

We have committed as a system to continue to advocate for clear, science-supported policy recommendations on public health needs related to diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity.

More on Diabetes

Mental Health

Our vision is that the access to and quality of mental health services in Utah are materially improved statewide, leaving the mental health of Utah’s population better than it is today.

More on Mental Health

Opioids

We have committed as a system to advocate for clear, science-supported policy recommendations on public health needs related to opioids.

More on Opioids

Rural Health

We are committed to expanding access, education, and jobs to all of Utah, improving health outcomes for rural residents and creating a career pathway for future clinicians.

More on Rural Health

Report to Our Community Features

Curbing the Rise of Utah Suicides

For every person in the US who dies of suicide, twice as many die in Utah. What’s worse, suicide is the leading cause of death among one of Utah’s youngest groups: teens aged 15-19. In the face of climbing Utah suicides, can we save a suffering state? Can we afford not to?

Explore the Feature

Driving Out Diabetes

Nearly 30 million Americans live with full-blown diabetes—and 88 million more struggle with prediabetes. While we create better treatments and search for a cure, we also have to bring resources to disproportionately affected communities to make diabetes management easier.

Read the Story

Fighting the Opioid Epidemic

In fewer than 25 years, opioid addiction has devastated the United States, inflicting a staggering social toll. Now, it’s time for health care systems to work with community partners to address this epidemic.

Understand the Battle

Expanding Rural Access

America’s traditional brick-and-mortar health care system is clearly not designed for the 20 percent of Americans who live in rural regions. But solving those problems requires intensive long-term work.

Take the Journey