County ranks low in state health survey

There was good news and bad news when the Wahkiakum County commissioners met as the county board of health on Tuesday.

Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines reported that in a recent survey of health, the county ranked 38th lowest out of the state's 39 counties.

However, she said the actual picture isn't that bad. Because of the way the survey is conducted, and because of the county's small size, the statistics are easily skewed, she said.

The survey is done by phone and reaches a limited audience, probably of older persons, she said, and that can skew the results.

"We could be doing well and still be ranked very low by a few hairs," she said.

The survey said the county's standing in a study of health incomes dropped from 28th place in 2010 to 38th in 2011.

The percent of adults reporting poor health was 21 percent, she said, while the state average was 13 percent.

In a survey of health factors such as smoking, obesity, diabetic screening, and preventable hospital stays, the county ranked 22nd in 2010 and 22nd in 2011.

The adult smoking rate, according to the telephone survey, is 15 percent; statewide, the rate is 17 percent.

The rate of adult obesity is 29 percent; statewide, the rate is 27 percent.

The percent of Medicare enrollees with diabetes is 89 percent; statewide, the rate is 86 percent.

In an anylsis of the physical environment, only 25 percent of respondents said they had access to healthy foods; statewide, the rate was 69 percent.

Also, no one reported having access to recreational facilities; statewide, the rate is 11 percent.

"I would argue that the entire county is a recreational area," Dr. Vines said. "The statistics are not necessarily true."

Dr. Vines and Health and Human Services Department Administrator Judy Bright added that the department has started several programs to address issues such as obesity and access to healthy foods.

Dr. Vines also reported that she had spent the past week learning about radiation monitoring in the wake of the Japanese nuclear plant disaster resulting from the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Monitoring devices in the US noted a spike in radioactive iodine, she said, the quantity was so low it isn't a health hazard.

The iodine has an eight day half life, she said, meaning the radiation disappears by half every eight days, so the effect is short lived.