Global Journal of Health Science Vol. 2, No. 1; April 2010 89 An Analysis of Health Care Assessments Used for Sustaining Communities Vereda Johnson Williams Economics and Finance Department, North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC 27411, USA E-mail: kingvj@ncat.edu Abstract This research addresses the needs for creating realistic health care assessment methodologies. The information acquired from health care assessments shape the policies which will ultimately sustain communities. Health care assessment tools and methods dictate the priorities of community health care. These priorities assist with the development of community health care research, the exploration of community based need initiatives and the design of pertinent policies which meet the demands of community health care. Community health assessment involves people and allows them to express their views, which leads to more self esteem, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Participatory community health care research relates to the continuity of the economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the non-human environment in which our communities thrive. This research will review the current literature pertinent to participatory action research. Additionally, this research will address the advantages, disadvantages and the ethical issues of participatory action research methods. Selected case studies are used to explain community based models which have identified necessary strategies which have been utilized to articulate and assist current community health issues in specified populations. Keywords: Participatory community health, Health care assessments, Health care management 1. Introduction For many years our health care systems, both for the professionals working in them, and those responsible for its management have debated issues regarding the scientific soundness of the policy decisions. Addressing community health care and management needs is complex. These complexities must addresses a cadres of issues relative to individuals, individuals, organizations, businesses and healthcare providers, problem of access and coverage to healthcare for the un- or under-insured, transportation, distribution, and other socioeconomic problems. Lack of insurance coverage may not be the only barrier to accessing health care in the community; many also feel there is a lack of funding for services for mental health and HIV prevention, as well as fewer health care resources available to address those needs. McNair and all (2008) research found that there is also a perception that access to health care is further limited due to clinicians' lack of understanding of many patients' cultural and social backgrounds, including ethnicity, language, and sexual orientation. The fields of public health and health care management also have problems with data; in that some is contradictory or some is non-existent. The purpose for this research is to review the importance of : (1) setting realistic community health care priorities, (2) developing effective participatory community health care research, (3) exploring community based need initiatives and (4) designing effective and efficient policies to meet the demands of community health care needs. 2. Review of Literature There are several methods which are quite useful in developing community health priorities and needs. The accuracy of the determination of these needs is necessary for the public as well as the users in order to. A few of the more common and useful methods for collecting data and information include surveys, samplings, citizen juries, user consultant panels, focus groups and questionnaires. While these methods have been useful and applicable there are some problems associated with their usage. These problems include (1) the time spent on deliberation, (2) the legitimacy of the stakeholders in health care decisions, (3) the public’s level of information, (4) the role of practitioner (is the practitioner serving as proxy for the patient), and (5) the adequacy of the financial resources sued in identifying the community’s health needs.