D029 Population Health Data Paper

D029 Population Health Data Paper

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 Western Governors University

D029 Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care

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Population Health Data Paper Introduction

Highlands County, Florida, is a geographically expansive region covering 1,106 square miles, ranking among the largest counties in the state. As per the 2020 census, the county is home to over 104,000 residents. Despite this sizeable population and land area, the health outcomes in Highlands County fall short when compared to state and national benchmarks. This paper examines the county’s sociodemographic characteristics, health outcomes, and contributing health factors to identify priority areas for intervention aimed at improving public health.

Sociodemographic Profile

What are the primary population characteristics of Highlands County compared to national figures?

The demographic makeup of Highlands County presents several notable contrasts with national statistics. The table below summarizes these key characteristics:

Population Characteristic	Highlands County (%)	United States (%)
Population Estimate	105,649	333,271,411
Population Growth Rate	6.3	1.0
Persons Under Age 18	16.6	27.1
Persons 65 Years and Over	36.2	17.3
Female Population	51.1	50.4
White Alone	84.7	75.5
Black or African American Alone	10.8	13.6
American Indian and Alaska Native Alone	0.8	1.3
Asian Alone	1.6	6.3
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders Alone	0.1	0.3
Two or More Races	2.0	3.0
Hispanic or Latino	22.6	19.1
White Alone, Not Hispanic or Latino	64.3	58.9
Language Other Than English Spoken at Home (Age 5+)	20.4	21.7
Households with a Computer	91.3	94.0
High School Graduate or Higher	86.2	89.1
Disability Under Age 65	12.8	8.9
Without Health Insurance Under Age 65	19.1	9.3
Civilian Labor Force Participation (Age 16+)	43.5	63.0
Females in Civilian Labor Force (Age 16+)	40.1	58.5
Per Capita Income (Past 12 Months)	$12,147	$15,224
Persons in Poverty	15.6	11.5
Population Density (per square mile)	99.5	93.8

Note: Data Source – United States Census Bureau (n.d.)

What insights does this sociodemographic profile provide about Highlands County?

The population structure of Highlands County is heavily weighted toward older adults, with over 36% of residents aged 65 and older—more than double the national percentage. This demographic trend underscores the county’s status as a popular retirement area but also suggests increased demand for age-related healthcare services and support systems. Conversely, the proportion of children under 18 is comparatively low, which may have long-term implications for the local workforce and educational infrastructure.

Racially, the county exhibits less diversity, with a predominant White population and a Hispanic or Latino demographic slightly above national averages. Economically, residents face notable challenges, including lower income levels and higher poverty rates. The uninsured rate is nearly double that of the nation, and labor force participation—especially among women—is significantly lower. A higher rate of disability under age 65 further highlights the county’s healthcare and social service needs.

County Health Outcomes

How does Highlands County perform on key health indicators relative to state and national levels?

From 2008 through 2022, Highlands County’s health indicators show a blend of improvements and ongoing difficulties:

• Uninsured Rate: The uninsured population declined from about 30% in 2008 to approximately 19% in 2021. However, this remains above Florida’s and the national averages.
• Primary Care Physician Availability: The ratio has remained relatively unchanged, indicating stable but potentially inadequate access to primary care.
• Dentist Availability: Improved access is reflected in a decrease in the population-to-dentist ratio from about 3,500:1 in 2010 to 2,500:1 in 2022.
• Preventable Hospital Stays: These hospitalizations have halved from nearly 6,000 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to under 3,000 in 2021, showing progress in chronic disease management.
• Mammography Screening: Screening rates dropped sharply from 45% in 2012 to less than 30% in 2021, indicating a critical area of concern.
• Flu Vaccination Rates: These have shown no meaningful change over the period.
• Unemployment Rate: Fluctuated in line with broader trends but without a consistent improvement or decline.

The trends indicate that while some areas like dental care and preventable hospital stays have improved, mammography screening rates require urgent attention.

Health Factors

What factors shape the health landscape of Highlands County in comparison with Florida and the United States?

The following table compares several health-related factors across Highlands County, Florida, and the national level:

Health Factor	Highlands County (%)	Florida (%)	United States (%)
Smoking	21	16	15
Access to Exercise Opportunities	70	87	84
Excessive Drinking	18	17	18
Primary Care Physicians (Population:Physician)	1720:1	1370:1	1330:1
High School Completion	84	90	86
Some College Education	50	65	68
Unemployment	4.2	2.9	3.7
Children in Single-Parent Households	26	28	25
Social Associations (per 10,000)	11.9	7.1	9.1
Children in Poverty	24	17	16
Injury Deaths (per 100,000)	120	91	80
Children Eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch	66	54	51
Air Pollution (PM2.5 µg/m³)	7.5	7.8	7.4
Severe Housing Problems	12	19	17

Note: Data Source – County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (n.d.)

What health strengths and challenges emerge from this data?

Highlands County confronts significant public health issues, including elevated smoking rates and higher injury death rates than state and national averages. These health risks require targeted prevention and intervention programs.

Conversely, the county benefits from robust social capital, reflected in a higher rate of social associations, which points to strong community networks. Economic struggles remain, with poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity among children being key concerns. However, housing issues in Highlands County appear less severe than the state and national averages, suggesting relative stability in living conditions.

This complex interplay of social determinants and healthcare access factors indicates the necessity of multifaceted public health strategies.

Purpose of Health Factors Data Comparison

Why is it important to compare county-level data with state and national benchmarks?

Comparing local health data to broader benchmarks provides critical context to accurately assess health status and disparities. Such comparisons uncover gaps in healthcare access, such as elevated uninsured rates, which could otherwise be overlooked when examining isolated data (Borgschulte & Vogler, 2020). This benchmarking supports informed decision-making and helps allocate resources effectively to address specific population health needs.

Analysis and Proposal

What are the critical findings related to mammography screening, and what interventions are recommended?

A major concern is the significant decline in mammography screening rates—from 45% in 2012 to less than 30% in 2021. To address this, implementing a Mobile Mammography Initiative is recommended. This initiative would deliver mammography services directly to underserved and rural populations, overcoming geographic and logistical barriers (Spak et al., 2020).

Mobile units can increase screening accessibility, raise awareness about breast cancer prevention, and reduce inconvenience by offering services in workplaces or residential areas.

How can advanced practice nurses (APNs) contribute to the success of this initiative?

APNs are pivotal in the design and execution of the program. Their roles include:

• Coordinating mobile unit schedules across the county.
• Leading community outreach and education efforts.
• Partnering with healthcare providers to obtain funding and resources.
• Monitoring program effectiveness to align with Healthy People 2030 goals (Trivedi et al., 2022).

What are the initial steps for launching this program?

Key steps include:

• Conducting a community needs assessment to understand demographic trends, current screening rates, and barriers.
• Forming an interprofessional team comprising healthcare professionals, community advocates, and local officials to manage data collection, outreach, screening, and evaluation.
• Securing funding through grants and partnerships.
• Developing data systems to track progress over time (Tsapatsaris & Reichman, 2021).

How can public awareness and engagement be enhanced?

Digital tools and social media platforms should be leveraged to boost awareness. APNs can utilize Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to disseminate information, engage local influencers, and run targeted campaigns. Additionally, creating mobile apps can facilitate appointment scheduling and provide educational resources, particularly benefiting rural and marginalized populations (Al-dmour et al., 2020).

What evaluation methods should be employed?

Program evaluation should focus on key indicators such as increases in mammography screening rates, expanded reach, and heightened community awareness. Data collection should combine electronic health records, community surveys, and staff feedback to capture both quantitative and qualitative outcomes. Visualization software like Tableau can support identifying trends and guide continuous improvements (Huguet et al., 2020; Kim & Huang, 2021).

References

Al-dmour, H., Masa’deh, R., Salman, A., Abuhashesh, M., & Al-Dmour, R. (2020). Influence of social media platforms on public health protection against the COVID-19 pandemic via the mediating effects of public health awareness and behavioral changes: Integrated model. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22. https://doi.org/10.2196/19996

Borgschulte, M., & Vogler, J. (2020). Did the ACA Medicaid expansion save lives? Health Economics eJournal. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHEALECO.2020.102333

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (n.d.). Highlands, Florida. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data/florida/highlands?year=2024

Huguet, N., Kaufmann, J., O’Malley, J., Angier, H., Hoopes, M., DeVoe, J., & Marino, M. (2020). Using electronic health records in longitudinal studies: Estimating patient attrition. Medical Care, 58(3), 231–238. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001298

D029 Population Health Data Paper

Kim, E., & Huang, C. (2021). Visual analytics in effects of gross domestic product to human immunodeficiency virus using tableau. International Journal of Machine Learning and Computing, 11(3), 219-223. https://doi.org/10.18178/IJMLC.2021.11.3.1038

Spak, D., Foxhall, L., Rieber, A., Hess, K., Helvie, M., & Whitman, G. (2020). Retrospective review of a mobile mammography screening program in an underserved population within a large metropolitan area. Academic Radiology, 27(11), 1575–1583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2020.07.012

Trivedi, U., Omofoye, T., Marquez, C., Sullivan, C., Benson, D., & Whitman, G. (2022). Mobile mammography services and underserved women. Diagnostics, 12(4), 902. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040902

Tsapatsaris, A., & Reichman, M. (2021). Project ScanVan: Mobile mammography services to decrease socioeconomic barriers and racial disparities among medically underserved women in NYC. Clinical Imaging, 78, 60-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinimag.2021.02.040

United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Quick Facts Highlands County, Florida; United States. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/highlandscountyflorida,US/

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