How Healthy Is Clarion County?

Aly Delp

Aly Delp

Published December 17, 2018 5:45 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Out of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Clarion County fell low in the rankings of a national report on county health rankings for this year.

Clarion County was ranked 56th in the state for overall health outcomes in the annual study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The study includes a number of different factors in the areas of length of life, quality of life, health behaviors, clinical care, physical environment, and social and economic factors.

Among the many different factors measured in the report, areas of particular concern in Clarion County include the smoking rate, which was recorded as 18%, and the obesity rate, which was recorded as 32%.

Clarion County also had a higher than average rate of preventable hospital stays, according to the report.

Though these are areas where Clarion County is struggling, there are programs available to designed help local residents.

“We have services available to help not only people with drug and alcohol problems but those addicted to tobacco,” said Clarion County Commissioner Wayne Brocious, who sits on the Armstrong/Indiana/Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission Board.

“There are group and individual classes that meet from time to time, and one staff member at the Clarion office is dedicated specifically to people with tobacco problems. People can also possibly get free nicotine replacement therapy.”

Brocious also noted that the upcoming opening of the new YMCA facility will offer added opportunities for those struggling with obesity and weight issues.

“I would recommend a membership with the Clarion County YMCA whose new state-of-the-art facility will be opening soon off exit 62 of Interstate 80. They have all kinds of programs and equipment that can improve your health, well-being, and quality of life.”

Julie Kunselman, Director of Marketing at Clarion Hospital, said that Clarion Hospital is also working toward helping the community through the issue of concern, offering programs like Teddy Bear Clinics in local primary schools to teach children the importance of healthy eating and exercise and holding transitions of care meetings to prevent rehospitalizations.

It should also be noted that these particular areas of concern are not uncommon in our region.

In the surrounding area, several other counties shared many of the same issues.

Venango County ranked 48th in the state overall and shared the same areas of concern with a 17% smoking rate, a 34% obesity rate, and a similarly higher than average rate of preventable hospital stays. Venango County also had a higher than average rate of teen births.

Jefferson County ranked 52nd in the state overall, and also had comparable rates of smoking and obesity, at 17% and 31% respectively, as was as an above average rate of preventable hospital stays. Jefferson County also had a higher than average rate of teen births and a lower than average access to exercise opportunities rate.

Though Forest County ranked far higher, at 21st in the state, they also shared many of the same areas of concern, with a smoking rate of 17% and an obesity rate of 31%, as well as a higher than average rate of preventable hospital stays. Forest County also had a higher rate of excessive drinking, at 21%, and a higher rate of teen births. However, Forest County had one of the highest rates for access for exercise opportunities at 89%, just below the top U.S. performers rate of 91%.

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