D029 Population Health Data Paper

D029 Population Health Data Paper

Student Name

Western Governors University 

D029 Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care

Prof. Name

Date

Population Health Data Paper Introduction

Highlands County in Florida covers an expansive area of 1,106 square miles, ranking among the largest counties in the state. The 2020 census reported a population exceeding 104,000 residents. Despite its size and population, the county’s health outcomes fall short compared to both Florida’s state averages and national standards. This report delves into Highlands County’s sociodemographic characteristics, health indicators, and underlying factors to pinpoint critical areas for health improvement and intervention.

---

Sociodemographic Profile

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

The sociodemographic attributes of Highlands County differ significantly from the broader U.S. population. The following table summarizes key demographic and socioeconomic indicators for Highlands County alongside United States averages:

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

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

What insights does this sociodemographic profile provide about Highlands County?

The demographic composition highlights a notably older population, with over 36% aged 65 and above, more than double the national percentage. This suggests Highlands County’s appeal as a retirement community. Meanwhile, the younger population (under 18) is significantly smaller than the national average, potentially impacting the availability of youth services and future workforce development.

Racially, the county exhibits less diversity with a predominantly White population and a slightly higher Hispanic or Latino representation than national figures. Economically, residents face challenges, reflected in lower per capita income, elevated poverty rates, and a substantial number without health insurance. Labor force participation is considerably below the national average, particularly among women. Additionally, a higher prevalence of disability among those under 65 highlights the county’s healthcare needs and social vulnerabilities.

---

County Health Outcomes

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

Health trends in Highlands County from 2008 to 2022 reveal both progress and areas of concern:

• Uninsured Rate: Improved from approximately 30% in 2008 to around 19% in 2021 but remains higher than state and national averages.

• Primary Care Physician Availability: Stable but potentially insufficient, with little change over the years.

• Dentist Availability: Improved access, as shown by the population-to-dentist ratio decreasing from 3,500:1 in 2010 to 2,500:1 in 2022.

• Preventable Hospital Stays: Halved from nearly 6,000 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to under 3,000 in 2021, indicating better chronic disease management and primary care.

• Mammography Screening: Alarmingly dropped from 45% in 2012 to less than 30% in 2021, signaling a gap in early breast cancer detection.

• Flu Vaccination Rates: Remained steady without significant change.

• Unemployment Rate: Varied in line with broader trends but showed no consistent downward or upward trajectory.

These findings reflect both positive developments, such as improved dental care and fewer preventable hospitalizations, alongside critical areas requiring urgent attention, notably the decline in mammography screenings.

---

Health Factors

What factors shape the health landscape of Highlands County compared to Florida and the United States?

The following table compares key health-related factors for Highlands County with Florida and the national averages:

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: 1 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 or Reduced-Price Lunch	66	54	51
Air Pollution (PM2.5 µg/m³)	7.5	7.8	7.4
Severe Housing Problems	12	19	17

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

What health strengths and challenges emerge from this data?

Highlands County faces several significant public health challenges, including a smoking rate higher than both the state and national averages, and elevated injury-related death rates. These trends suggest a critical need for targeted public health interventions aimed at reducing smoking and preventing injuries.

Conversely, the county benefits from strong community engagement, indicated by higher rates of social associations per capita. This social capital can be leveraged to improve health outcomes through community-based programs.

Economic challenges persist with higher poverty and unemployment rates, alongside substantial food insecurity among children, as reflected in the high eligibility for free or reduced-price lunches. Despite these economic stresses, the county experiences fewer severe housing problems than state and national averages, suggesting relatively better housing stability.

The interplay of these factors highlights the complex determinants of health in Highlands County and the necessity for comprehensive approaches addressing both social determinants and healthcare services.

---

Purpose of Health Factors Data Comparison

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

Comparing local health data against state and national benchmarks is crucial for contextualizing county performance and identifying disparities. This approach helps uncover gaps such as the high uninsured rate in Highlands County, indicating barriers to healthcare access (Borgschulte & Vogler, 2020). Without such comparisons, local data may be misinterpreted or underestimated, hindering effective health planning. Benchmarking enhances informed decision-making and optimizes resource allocation to improve population health outcomes.

---

Analysis and Proposal

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

A significant concern is the steep decline in mammography screening rates, falling from 45% in 2012 to below 30% in 2021. To address this, implementing a Mobile Mammography Initiative is recommended. This program would deliver screening services directly to underserved and rural areas, removing geographic and logistical barriers (Spak et al., 2020).

Mobile mammography units can improve access, raise awareness about breast cancer prevention, and reduce disruptions by providing convenient services at workplaces or residential neighborhoods.

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

APNs are vital in planning and executing the mobile screening program. Their roles include:

• Scheduling mobile unit visits throughout the county.

• Conducting community outreach and education.

• Collaborating with healthcare partners to secure funding.

• Monitoring program effectiveness toward achieving Healthy People 2030 goals (Trivedi et al., 2022).

What are the initial steps for launching this program?

Launching requires:

• A comprehensive community needs assessment to understand demographic trends, screening rates, and access barriers.

• Forming an interprofessional team of healthcare providers, community advocates, and local leaders to organize roles for outreach, data collection, and screening.

• Securing funding via grants and partnerships.

• Developing data collection and analysis systems to monitor outcomes (Tsapatsaris & Reichman, 2021).

How can public awareness and engagement be enhanced?

Digital platforms and social media are essential tools. APNs can:

• Use Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to share information, engage influencers, and run targeted campaigns.

• Develop mobile apps to simplify appointment scheduling, provide updates, and offer educational materials, focusing especially on rural and marginalized populations (Al-dmour et al., 2020).

What evaluation methods should be employed?

Program success should be measured by increased screening rates, broader geographic coverage, and higher community awareness. Data sources should include electronic health records, community surveys, and staff feedback to capture quantitative and qualitative outcomes. Visualization tools such as Tableau can assist in tracking trends and refining the program (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

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

D029 Population Health Data Paper

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/