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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

Chronic Conditions

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.

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Behavioral 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 Behavioral Health

Health Disparities

We have committed as a system to advocate for clear, science-supported policy recommendations on public health needs related to prescription drug use and misuse, substance abuse, and opioid-related illnesses.

More on Health Disparities

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

2023 Report to Our Community Features

Seeds of Change

Diabetes, food insecurity, and homelessness are inextricably linked. A tiny urban farm is transforming individual lives and finding solutions to these systemic problems.

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For the Love of Mothers

Amid the pressures of parenthood, many Utah mothers struggle with postpartum mental health. In our family-friendly state, are we caring for the caregivers?

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A Bridge to Recovery

Most patients addicted to opioids show up in the ER desperate for help. How does a traditionally fragmented health system coordinate care when a person needs it most?

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Returning to Heal

For more than a decade, residents of a former fundamentalist stronghold had no access to health care. Driven by the dire need in their remote community, local leaders fought to open a clinic. 

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2020 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