(Binghamton-NY) The 2011 County Health Rankings were released today by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. These rankings use specific data related to health outcomes and health factors to evaluate community health nationwide. Broome County ranked 23^rd out of 62 New York State counties for health factors and was in the top 50% of counties for positive Physical Environment and Social and Economic Factors.

“County Health rankings draw attention to indicators that we can collectively act upon to improve our community’s health,” stated Claudia Edwards Broome County Health Department Director. “Local public health programs rely on such indicators to promote healthy standards and policy implementation to improve individual and community well-being.” 

The County Health Rankings combined existing data into two categories: health outcomes and health factors. Health outcomes included: years of productive life lost prior to age 75 (YPLL), the percent of people reporting fair or poor health, the reported number of days in poor physical and poor mental health, and the incidence of low-birth weight infants. Health factors were grouped into four categories: health behavior, clinical care, socioeconomic factors, and physical environment.

Incorporating all of the health categories, Broome County was ranked 48^th out of the 62 New York State counties.  Closer review of the data shows health behaviors such as smoking and obesity contributing to this ranking. According to the County Health Rankings, 24% of the Broome County adults smoke which is 5% higher than the statewide average of 19%.  The rankings identified 28% of Broome County adults or roughly 55,000 residents are obese which is about equal to the obesity rates of neighboring counties.  

Broome County Ranking highlights (scale: 62 NYS counties):

-         6^th in NYS for clinical care

-         11^th in NYS for physical environment

-         23^rd in NYS for positive health factors

-         71% of Medicare enrollees receive mammography screening

Local public health officials are keen to the data incorporated within the County Health Rankings. “Bringing all this data together into one place serves as a useful reminder that good health requires more than good health care,” said Broome County Medical Director Dr. Christopher Ryan.  “It is a community-wide effort, and our goal is to work with all sectors of our community to help make the healthy choices the easy and natural ones."

The Broome County Health Department has many active programs which seek ways to improve the health factors and outcomes highlighted by the rankings. Programs which aim to reduce obesity include the Strategic Alliance for Health and Sodium Reduction in Communities grant. Additionally, the Community Partnership Program funded by the NYS Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, is managed by the Health Department to reduce tobacco use/smoking.

The Strategic Alliance for Health draws together community stakeholders to implement sustainable, innovative, and evidence-based community health promotion and chronic disease prevention strategies that promote policy, systems, and environmental changes. To reduce obesity rates the alliance has sought to improve community nutrition through local program and policy initiatives such as:

• School based breakfast program
• Enhancement of senior nutrition program
• Increasing access to locally grown vegetables at restaurants, schools, worksites and entertainment facilities
• Supporting mixed use land policies to support urban gardening.  

The Strategic Alliance for Health has also sought to reduce obesity rates by supporting the inclusion of bike lanes in streetscapes and walkable community design to enhance the environment for increasing physical activity. Currently, only 16% of Broome County adults meet moderate and vigorous physical activity recommendations.  

Efforts lead by the Community Partnership Program (CPP) have shown to decrease the number of smokers in Broome County. Current 2011 county rankings show that 24% of Broome County adults smoke, which is a decrease from the smoking rate reported in the county rankings from the previous year at 25%. The program’s prevention strategies have accomplished the following:

• 37 Local organizations/businesses signed a policy refusing tobacco company donations (sponsorship)
• 10 Tobacco retailers signed a pledge and made significant decreases in tobacco advertising
• 22 Broome County bars signed a policy prohibiting tobacco company marketing and sampling events
• 5 Schools developed, implemented, and enforced tobacco free school policies

• 11 Local organizations/businesses adopted smoke-free campuses, including within the last year:
  • West Family YMCA
  • Catholic Charities
  • Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton
  • Davis College
  • Binghamton YMCA (designated smoking area for residents)
• Town of Maine, City of Binghamton, and Village of Johnson City (effective May 2011) adopted tobacco free parks policies.
• All Broome County and Town of Union Parks adopted tobacco-free playground, athletic field and spectator areas policies.

• Increasing cessation opportunities- local hospitals: Lourdes and UHS, Healthcare providers/organizations implemented systems to screen patients for tobacco use and offer advice and assistance to quit

The County Health Rankings are released annually and were first issued in 2010.  For more information, please visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.