National Ranking Rates South Florida Health Good, Not Great
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) - If healthy living is important to you, you're living in the right place. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties have been ranked as among the healthiest in the state by a national health organization, but the director of Miami-Dade's health department believes we have plenty of room for improvement.
South Florida is not #1 in the state in the national health rankings for 2011, compiled by the County Health Rankings project. That place is held by Collier County, making it the healthiest of the state's 67 counties. Miami-Dade makes the top 10, ranked at #8. Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties are in the top 20, ranking 10,11, and 15.
The least healthy county in the state is tiny Union county, in north Florida.
Miami-Dade county did top the state in important health factors, beating the state averages for adult smoking, obesity, excessive drinking, sexually transmitted diseases and teen birth rate. Broward ranked #3, and Monroe ranked #15.
But the picture for Miami-Dade moved to the other end of the scale when the project examined medical care, social, and economic factors. Miami-Dade moved to nearly the bottom of the list.
Miami-Dade ranks 51st out of 67 for clinical care. The project found 34% of the County's residents under 65 had no health insurance, 7 points above the state average. The number of preventable medicare hospital stays per thousand residents hit 93, almost 30 above the state average, and far more than Broward or Monroe.
Miami-Dade also ranked poorly in social and economic factors. Statewide, the study found 65% of high school students graduated in 4 years. In Miami-Dade, it was just 55%. Monroe County bested the state average with a 70% graduation rate.
Statewide, 18% of children were found to be living in poverty. In Miami-Dade, it was 21%. Violent crime is considered unhealthy, and in Miami-Dade, the rate in 2011 was 956 per 100 thousand residents. That's 250 per 100 thousand above the state average, and even further above the average in Broward and Monroe.
"I believe its findings necessitate a "Call to Action" for Miami-Dade County residents to come together to improve the health of our community," said Lillian Rivera, administrator of the Miami-Dade Health Department.
In a letter responding to the rankings, she acknowledged the county's#1 ranking in some areas, while pointing out areas where the county needs significant improvement.
"There is no question that state and local governments are facing tough times in this economy,"she said. "Consequently, important services and programs that affect health are at risk."
Pointing to The Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade, a group of 160 partners including CBS4 and CBSMiami.com, she said there are ways to improve the county's health situation without large taxpayer expense.
"Having health insurance and good medical care are important, but much of what influences our health happens outside the doctor's office—from access to healthy food and smoke-free air to breathe, to opportunities for physical activity, education and jobs"
