Population Health

 

Population health is an approach to health that aims to improve the health of the entire population and to reduce health inequities among certain groups.  Population health is not just the overall health of a population but also includes the distribution of health and can include health outcomes, patterns of health determinants, and policies and interventions.

Virginia's Plan for Well-Being

Health begins where Virginians live, work, and play. Virginia’s Plan for Well-Being lays out the foundation for giving everyone a chance to live a healthy life.

Virginia’s Plan for Well-Being 2023–2027 will be a shared vision to improve the health of all Virginians. It will outline priority areas and includes strategies to improve the health of all people in Virginia. Grounded in data, the Plan for Well-Being identifies strategies to improve outcomes around six priority areas identified by the State Health Assessment Advisory Council in August 2022.

The website is currently being updated for the release of the new 2023-2027 Plan for Well-Being.

Sources for Community Health Data

Data can be a catalyst for improving community health and well-being. The following resources provides access to national, state, and local health indicators.

  • Virginia Rural Health Plan 2022-2026. The Virginia State Office of Rural Health has announced the release of the Virginia Rural Health Plan 2022-2026 (VRHP). The goal of this working action plan is to showcase the resiliency and assets of the Commonwealth’s rural communities. A series of community conversations and site visits that took place between October 2019 and March 2020 advised the scope of the VRHP.
  • Virginia Well-Being. Use this tool to learn more about your community by searching for your city or county. Compare rates with the Commonwealth of Virginia and other localities by selecting data indicators by county, district, or state.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has multiple data sources for drug overdose deaths. Please note that any assessments or improvement plans finalized before May 12, 2025, have websites, charting, and data that use death investigation data, slightly different from death certificate data.
As of May 12, 2025, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) uses death certificate data to report drug overdose death counts and rates to the public, including the media. This update allows for consistency in VDH's drug overdose death reporting for Virginia. West Piedmont is in the process of transitioning to the new metrics using death certificate data. During the transition, please use the VDH Drug Overdose Deaths data dashboard for statistics on drug overdose deaths for Virginia residents published by VDH.

Virginia Department of Health Data Portal

The Virginia Department of Health Data Portal is a comprehensive source for community health assessment, public, and population health data. The portal provides interactive data at the most granular level available.

 

Data Collection, Analysis and Use

Community Health Assessment (CHA)

Where and how we live, learn, work, and play affects our health. Understanding how these factors influence health is critical for developing the best strategies to address them. A Community Health Assessment (CHA) is completed every three years to identify the health-related needs and strengths of our communities.

Your contribution is vital in helping West Piedmont Health District and its community partners identify health care needs, improve access to health care services, and enhance the care provided in the communities that we serve.

Links to local Community Health Assessment & Improvement plans in the West Piedmont Health District follow:

Last Updated: April 2, 2026