Assessment Overview

The research and survey included:

• Secondary data profile (population and households’ statistics, mortality rates, maternal and child health indicators, etc.)
• Household survey now totals 1,570 randomly selected adults from all zip codes in New London and Windham Counties
• Key Informant Interviews
• Health Care Consumer Focus Group
• Community Prioritization Session with community leaders

Key Community Strengths

• Self-reported health status
• Health insurance coverage
• Physical activity
• Ability to pay for care
• Routine checkups
• Diabetes or pre-Diabetes diagnosis
• Incidence rates for all sexually transmitted illnesses
• Incidence rates for colorectal cancer and prostate cancer
• Infant mortality, birth weight & prenatal care
• More likely to have health screenings, flu shot, HIV test
• More likely for child to have HPV vaccine
• Percentage of single-mother households
• Lead screenings
• Poverty rates for individuals and families
• Overall crime rate
• Reputation, perception of health care entities
• Education/communication, support groups
• Community organizations
• Air and water quality

Areas of Opportunity

• Mortality rates due to top three leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
• Lung cancer incidence rate and mortality rate
• Asthma
• Incidence rates for Acute Hepatitis C and Lyme disease
• Percent of obese adults
• Percent of adult smokers
• Less likely than CT to have one healthcare provider
• Diabetes Management
• Mental Health 1-2 days less favorable than US
• Anxiety 1-2 days less favorable than US
• Depression diagnosis
• Less likely to get mammogram, pneumonia shot
• Oral health
• Annual hospitalization rates for adults and children
• Access to a primary care physician (Physician density per 100,000 population)
• Rate of preventable hospital stays
• Binge drinking less favorable than CT
• Less likely to always wear seatbelt than CT
• Educational attainment (college degree)
• Transportation to access health care
• Cultural competency, bi-lingual providers
• Access to specialists
• Indoor physical activity