Introduction

The Greater Portsmouth Public Health Network (GPPHN) seeks to improve the health of the community through the collaborative efforts of our partners. The network provides a vehicle to improve communication and foster joint efforts in the area of community health status assessment, emergency preparedness, prioritization of public health needs, and implementation of action plans to effectively address top priority public health concerns. The Greater Portsmouth Public Health Network’s goals include organizing, preparing, and implementing an area-wide, visioning process. The resulting shared vision and common values will provide a framework for identifying and pursuing long-range regional public health goals.

Service Area

The Greater Portsmouth service area includes the following six towns of Rockingham County: Portsmouth, New Castle, North Hampton, Rye, Newington, and Greenland. The six towns have a combined base population of 35,605 people spanning over 94.9 square miles. In addition, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services estimates the population increases by approximately 28,000 transient visitors during the summer

Partners

The Network has formed an advisory committee to provide leadership from various organizations within the community. Avid partners within the network include: local government officials, health and human service providers, schools, businesses, as well as fire, safety, and emergency personnel. The following organizations are also active participants in achieving the network's goals: Health Officers in each of the six towns, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth Schools, American Red Cross Great Bay Chapter, Foundation for Seacoast Health, Community Resource Network, United Way Greater Seacoast, and Families First Health and Support Center.

Priorities for Action

Since 2004, 14 other regional networks have been established throughout the state. The GPPHN recently completed the local version of the National Health Assessment and Performance Standards assessment developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This initiative examines the region’s public health infrastructure and possible ways to improve public health delivery. The summary of the findings was sent to all participants.

Following a review of the findings, the GPPHN Advisory Committee was asked to rate and select priority areas for goal setting. GPPHN developed a Public Health Improvement Plan (pdf, 82kb) for the region which identifies the area's top public health infrastructure needs. Those needs are developed in the following goals:

Goal#1: Monitor Health Status by completing a Community Health Profile (pdf, 1.8mb). The Community Health Profile identifies the leading health issues facing the residents of Portsmouth and surrounding commuities. The Profile is intended to guide the strategic planning initiatives of local health care agencies in order to improve the health of residents.

Goal #2: Increase the region's service area capacity to diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards. GPPHN members have been actively involved in the Portsmouth Area Emergency Planning Team. This plan also includes the town of North Hampton who has joined our emergency planning and response plan.

Goal #3: Mobilize community partnerships to increase area capacity to respond to public health emergencies and disasters. GPPHN have formed workgroups to address the needs of area residents during public health emergencies.

Goal #4: Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce. GPPHN is meeting regularly with each town's health officer to discuss training and professional development needs.