El Dorado ranked sixth healthiest county in state, but 24th for physical environment

El Dorado County has been ranked as the 6^th healthiest county in California, according to a national report just published by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

The County Health Rankings Report, a report published annually since 2010, ranks each county within each state on how healthy people are and how long they live.  The counties are also ranked on key factors that affect health such as: smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary health care providers, rates of high school graduation, rates of violent crime, air pollution levels, liquor store density, unemployment rates and number of children living in poverty. Researchers used the latest data available for each county, ranging from 2005 to 2011, to develop the Health Rankings.

According to the report, El Dorado County ranked 6^th in overall health outcomes among 57 California counties.  El Dorado County did especially well in the measures of morbidity (health-related quality of life), and social and economic factors, ranking 4^th among California counties.  The County also did well in the areas of health behaviors and clinical care, ranking 10^th and 6^th respectively.  The County ranked 24^th in the area of physical environment, citing less than desired access to healthy foods and a higher percentage of fast food establishments than some of the other California counties.  Since the first report was published, El Dorado County has actually moved up in the Health Rankings.  El Dorado County was ranked 10^th healthiest in 2010. 

According to Chris Weston, Program Manager II for the El Dorado County Public Health Division, the report provides helpful information that can be used in community planning and education.  “This is great news and something we can be proud of,” said Weston.  “We live in a beautiful, rural county that offers its residents good health overall.  The report certainly shows us where we have been doing well in our communities and where there are areas for improvement.  It can also motivate us to continue to work together to maintain our healthy communities.”

The announcement regarding the Health Rankings is timely as health departments around the country prepare for National Public Health Week, April 1-7.  The Public Health Week campaign encourages individuals to take concrete steps toward improving the health of their communities.  Information about the Public Health Week campaign can be found at www.nphw.org.

The online County Health Rankings Report is available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.