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IntroductionFindingsComparison With Other NationsCore MeasuresBehaviorsCommunity & EnvironmentPolicyClinical CareOutcomesSupplemental MeasuresState Summaries
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
District of Columbia
US SummaryAppendixDescription of Core MeasuresDescription of Supplemental MeasuresMethodologyModel DevelopmentScientific Advisory CommitteeThe TeamAcknowledgementsConclusion
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingDistrict of ColumbiaUS SummaryAppendixDescription of Core MeasuresDescription of Supplemental MeasuresMethodologyModel DevelopmentScientific Advisory CommitteeThe TeamAcknowledgementsConclusionLow Birthweight
Low birthweight (LBW)—1 of the 3 leading causes of US infant mortality—indicates current and future child health as well as maternal health. Compared with babies of normal weight, very LBW babies are more likely to have health problems such as respiratory distress syndrome, brain bleeding, patent ductus arteriosus, or necrotizing enterocolitis. Adults who were LBW babies may be at greater risk for such health conditions as diabetes and heart disease. LBW commonly occurs because of preterm birth or fetal growth restriction and is associated with such maternal behaviors as smoking, alcohol and drug use, poor nutrition, and weight gain.
Data source: National Vital Statistics System, 2013 For details: www.americashealthrankings.org/ALL/birthweight
“About 1 in 3 children born prematurely needs special school services at some point during their school years. The Institute of Medicine says these services cost an estimated $2,200 per year per child.” —March of Dimes
Primary Care Physicians
Primary care physicians, an indicator of availability of health care providers, offer direct patient care and counsel patients on the appropriate use of specialists and advanced treatment options. Primary care physicians are typically the first point of contact with the health care system for patients and provide critical preventive care, ongoing care, and referrals to specialists. Primary care physician availability has a documented influence on health; more primary care physicians have been linked to better health outcomes including lower rates of low birthweight, lower all-cause mortality, and longer life spans.
Dentists
Oral health is a vital part of overall health and a window into a patient’s general health. Many underlying conditions such as nutritional deficiencies, microbial infections, and immune disorders have oral manifestations that dentists identify in oral examinations. Periodontal disease is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Nearly one-third of US adults have untreated tooth decay, and despite steady growth in working dentists, the Health Resources and Services Administration projects the dentist shortage will continue to grow as baby boomers retire. The most significant US oral health care disparities exist in rural communities.
Data source: American Dental Association, 2013 For details: www.americashealthrankings.org/ALL/dentists
Preventable Hospitalizations
Accessible and effective preventive care can reduce hospitalizations for many preventable infectious diseases, asthma attacks, diabetes, and hypertension. Preventable hospitalizations reflect the efficiency of a population’s use of primary care and the quality of the primary health care received. Preventable hospitalizations are more common among the uninsured and often occur because of failure to treat conditions early in an outpatient setting. High rates of preventable hospital admissions can indicate problems with a population’s access to primary health care and deficiencies in the quality of outpatient care. They burden the health care system financially, with $30.8 billion attributed to preventable hospitalizations in 2006.
Data source: The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, 2013 For details: www.americashealthrankings.org/ALL/preventable