Measuring Community Health: What the data from Spartanburg tell us Kathleen Brady, PhD University of South Carolina Upstate September 10, 2015
Jan 12, 2016
Measuring Community Health:
What the data from Spartanburg tell us
Kathleen Brady, PhDUniversity of South Carolina Upstate
September 10, 2015
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The mission of the Metropolitan Studies Institute is to support research efforts between USC Upstate and the community that enhance relationships, promote the reciprocal flow of information and ideas, assist community and
economic development, and increase the strategic use of the University’s scholarship and outreach capabilities.
Stakeholders
Six Indicator Areas
1. Education
2. Economy
3. Public Health
4. Natural Environment
5. Social Environment
6. Civic Health
Good Data
Three Rules:
Integrity
Context
Comprehensiveness
• Validity – measures what it says it measures
• Reliability – consistent over time
• Comparative – peer geographies or groups
• Trend – changes over time
• Paint the whole picture
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Why Health Research ?
We measure it because it is important
Leading Indicators
• Birth Outcomes• Overweight and Obesity• Access to Health Care• Behavioral Health• Tobacco Use
RTBH Priorities
1. Improving Access to Care
2. Reducing Childhood Obesity
3. Improving Birth Outcomes
4. Reducing Tobacco Use
5. Improving Behavioral Health Access
And….
Secondary Indicators• Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing• Immunizations• Teen Risk Behavior and Attitudes• Chronic Diseases• Cancer• Diabetes• Heart Disease and Stroke• Breast Feeding• Sexually Transmitted Infections• Health Disparities and Inequities• Mortality
Crosscutting Indicators
• Education• Poverty• Air Quality / Toxic Exposure
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What do our local data tell us?
Access to Care
Approximately 48,666 residents of Spartanburg County are uninsured (17.0% of all residents and 24.2% of residents age 18-64 in 2013)
17% of Spartanburg County residents were unable to see a doctor because they could not afford to (SC BRFSS 2010)
In 2012 SRHS and Mary Black Hospital provided:• care to 41,241 self-pay / indigent patients in the ED who were not admitted to
inpatient treatment ($61 million)• care to an additional 2,102 self-pay indigent patients who were admitted ($66.3
million)
High Utilizers of the ED FY 2013-2014 (4+ visits)
ED dental data for uninsured
Behavioral Health
At SRHS in 2012, there were 9,456 visits to the ED by uninsured patients for behavioral health conditions.
This was the #1 diagnosis in the ED in 2012.
• 5,910 individuals• Total Charges $41,622,647• Average Charge $4,402
Overweight and Obesity64% of Spartanburg County adults are overweight or obese
34% of Spartanburg County children are overweight or obese
Obese individuals have 30% to 50% more chronic health conditions than individuals who smoke or drink heavily
Medical costs in South Carolina related to obesity exceed $1 billion annually
Overweight or obese children, Spartanburg County (2013-2014):• 1st graders: 31.5%• 3rd graders: 34.4%• 5th graders: 37.8%
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What do we do with the research?
What we know and what works
Prevention and Wellness are largely a function of policy, systems, and environmental change
Modifying the environment to make healthy choices practical and available (“make the healthy choice the easy choice”)
Implementing healthy policies
Ensuring adequate systems of care
Raise awareness, implement policies and the norm will change
Knowledge is a very poor predictor of behavior!
(at least when it comes to health behavior)
Local Data-Informed Initiatives
Partners for Active Living• B-cycle• Complete Streets
Hub City Farmers’ Market• Mobile Market
Trails
Childhood Obesity Initiatives
Smoking ordinances
Wellville goals
OBESITY PREVENTION• We will reduce obesity by creating a healthier community through better nutrition and active living.
CARE FOR THE UNINSURED• We will increase access to care for the uninsured by removing physical and social barriers to quality
healthcare.
HEALTH FOR THE INSURED• We will maximize health for the insured by creating innovative ways to streamline primary and
preventive care.
KINDERGARTEN READINESS• We will improve kindergarten readiness by ensuring that children birth through age 5 have access to
quality early childhood education.
COMMUNITY PRIDE• We will build community pride by increasing social connections that engage more citizens to express
love for where they live, work, and play.