Curry and Roosevelt rank high in health issues study

STAFF REPORT

A new national health study ranks Roosevelt and Curry county high in the state for health issues but there are indications more work may be necessary.

Results are part of the 2015 County Health Rankings, a collaborative project between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Results were released in March, revealing factors that contribute to a resident’s health and longevity in relation to their community.

According to Jan O’Neill, an associate researcher and community coach with the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Program, the goal of the rankings is to raise awareness in each community about the many factors that contribute to health, so communities can then assess where they are doing well and what needs to improve.

The statistics listed on the County Health Ranking’s website allow each state to see how its counties rank on 30 factors. There are four major categories, which include various health behaviors, clinical care, social economics and physical environment.

Each model also includes areas to explore, which O’Neill said are items that the local community may want to look further into.

Roosevelt County’s areas to explore include adult smoking, adult obesity, physical inactivity, uninsured, preventable hospital stays, diabetic monitoring, drinking violations and severe housing problems.

O’Neill said it is important for counties to look beyond just health care access.

“It is necessary but not sufficient,” she said. “Communities really need to look more broadly at the different factors that contribute to health.”

O’Neill said two ranks are given out, One is for health outcomes, and one is for health factors.

“Health outcomes are what we call ‘today’s health,’ and that is how long and how well people live,” she said.

O’Neill said the health factors rank is based on all of the things that contribute to a long and healthy life. “We call this tomorrow’s health, and we pick the measures that counties can do something about,” she said.

According to the website, Roosevelt County is ranked two out of 32 in the health outcomes category, which means the county is second in the state for how long and how well the residents live. As for the health factors category, Roosevelt County ranks nine out of 32.

“This says that your current day health ranks higher than your tomorrow’s day health,” said O’Neill.

Curry County’s overall health outcome rank is 10 out of 32, and their overall health factors rank 11 out of 32.

The rankings reveal that the healthiest counties in each state have better access to public recreation, high college attendance and less preventable hospital stays, while the least healthy counties have more teen births, more alcohol-related car crash deaths and more smokers.

O’Neill said there is always something to work on in each county, and that it will take a community-wide effort to make a difference. “We’re going to need people from all walks of life,” she said.

According to O’Neill, there is a roadmap category on their website, which is filled with an action center of tools and free coaching.