Central Minnesota health profile

Abstract

The purpose of creating the Central Minnesota Health Profile was to create an updated, easy to read, health profile to be used by CentraCare Health Foundation and to be distributed to St. Cloud Hospital and other community agencies and members. The Health Profile would be then used to assess the health and wellness trends of the CentraCare service area (13 counties) and to identify the health and wellness needs of those communities. The main and more specific goal for the completed Central Minnesota Health Profile was to assist in identifying the 2003 project topic for the CentraCare Health Foundation. Data for the research was extracted from the Minnesota Department of Health, U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Disease Control, Minnesota Department of Human Services and Minnesota Planning. The researcher collected the existing data between June and August, 2003. The data was used to analyze trends over time of determined health issues in 13 counties, along with a 13-county combination. The counties were ranked in order of healthiest to least healthiest and compared against data from the State of Minnesota for the same health topics. The results then indicated which county showed most improvement over time and which counties stood above or below the State of Minnesota benchmark. The study indicated that the risk for heart disease in the 13 counties increased 29.7 percent since 1995. The estimated percent of the population that have been diagnosed with hypertension in the 13 counties increased 3 percent since 1995. The estimated percent of the population overweight in the 13 counties increased 26.8 percent since 1995. The percentage of the population with an income below the federal poverty level in the 13 counties decreased 4.2 percent since 1995. The estimated percent of the population reporting limitation in activities due to impairments or health problems in the 13 counties decreased 3.7 percent since 1995. Fatalities due to heart disease in the 13 counties decreased 3.8 percent since 1995. Years of life lost before age 65, per 100,000 people in the 13 counties decreased 549.4 years since 1995. Recommendations were that the included counties, health agencies, St. Cloud Hospital and the CentraCare Health Foundation devise action plans for decreasing the risk of the health component for the components that have significantly increased since 1995. Each component should be carefully reviewed and shared with each county, defining reasons for increases. Resources should be put into effect to combat increases and associated health risks in the future.