Assignment 2: Wind Shield Assessment

Windshield survey: Abundant Healthcare

A Windshield Survey gives an objective overview of a community. Information obtained from this exercise can be used to identify a community’s strengths and weaknesses. These direct observations allow one to better understand the environment in which individuals live and interact. This information can help us better understand the health status of the individuals within the community and the community as a whole. The Windshield Survey needs to be conducted in the same community where the Public Healthcare Agency you will be interviewing is located.

If the agency you have signed up for an interview with is not in your area, students may conduct the windshield survey using Google Maps or Google Earth to find out the information about the area. You may also find other helpful information online. 

As part of the Windshield Survey the community, you will need to gather some demographic information about this community for abundant healthcare. This information can be found online through city or county websites. Include the following information:

• Population statistics:  Total population, broken out by age, race, and gender.
• Median information compared to state, age, income, house values, and educational attainment.
• Health Data, mortality, morbidity, chronic diseases, prevalent diseases.

You can find data through Healthy People 2020, the CDC, the US Census Bureau, and the National Vital Statistics System. This statistical data, along with the observational data from your windshield survey, will be needed as you construct your community health assessment plan.

If the agency you are going to interview is in your area, you can also drive around a predetermined community (or have another drive while you take notes) and gather information about various aspects of the community (see Windshield Survey Tool). You will need to determine the most appropriate time to gather information.

For example, if you travel around the community on a weekday morning and this is a commuter community you may not see anyone outside. You may want to divide your time and make several short trips to obtain a better perspective. You can also make observations as you do your errands or travel to and from work. Try to document what you see as soon as possible after your trip. Avoid preconceived ideas about the community and record what you observe; strive to remain objective. Be sure to map out your planned route beforehand. You can use a mini recorder to take audio notes or even a camera for pictures. It should take no more than two hours to conduct the windshield survey, and another two hours to obtain demographic data on the area.

Windshield survey for Abundant Healthcare

Please refer to your readings for further information regarding the windshield survey.

If you will be riding in a car while conducting your survey, there are several things to keep in mind:

• If possible, have someone else drive while you record the data. If you have to drive yourself, make sure you stop at regular intervals to record your data.
• Try to be inconspicuous.
• Pay attention to safety.
• If you have chosen a large city to focus on, you might want to consider narrowing your survey down to a single community in that city.

Submit your data in an APA formatted paper.   You may include photos or other items. Alternatively, you may elect to compose a PowerPoint presentation of your data and photos for submission.  NOTE:  The survey tool provided is for recording your data during your survey you should NOT submit the tool as the completed assignment.

The Outline for the Windshield Survey is as follows: