The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and
United Health Foundation announced that the Minnesota Department of
Health (MDH) is the 2013 winner of the inaugural America’s Health
Rankings® Champion Award.
The award recognizes a state or territorial health department that uses
data from the rankings to improve its state’s health outcomes, including
addressing health disparities, and to build relationships with local
health departments and other partners.
United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® is the
longest-running report of its kind. For 23 years, the Rankings has
provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by
evaluating a comprehensive set of health, environmental and
socioeconomic data to determine national health benchmarks and state
rankings. This process reveals improvements and deterioration in
important health indicators.
One of the initiatives to which MDH has applied the America’s Health
Rankings indicators is the Minnesota Statewide Health Improvement
Program, which targets the leading causes of chronic disease: tobacco
use and obesity. Since the program’s launch in 2009, nearly 300 cities
have worked to improve walkability and bikeability by adding trails and
sidewalks; 580 child-care businesses have enhanced their nutrition
education programs for more than 10,000 children; and farm-to-school
efforts connecting local farmers and schools have expanded to include
440 schools serving 235,000 students.
“We are honored to be the first state to win the America’s Health
Rankings Champion Award,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Edward
Ehlinger, M.D., MSPH. “The Minnesota Department of Health uses the
Rankings to inform and motivate our department programs and community
partners in a shared effort to make Minnesota the healthiest state
possible.”
Minnesota leaders have rallied around America’s Health Rankings as an
important source of health data and as a call to action. Gov. Mark
Dayton uses the ranking indicators to evaluate his administration’s
effectiveness, and Ehlinger frequently cites America’s Health Rankings
in his work, examining it to determine Minnesota’s health strengths and
areas for improvement. MDH also uses the ranking indicators to monitor
progress on the Healthy Minnesota 2020 Statewide Health Improvement
Framework.
Minnesota includes partners at the state, local and community levels in
their efforts to improve health outcomes using the rankings,
collaborating closely with local health departments, departments of
education and transportation, local schools, chambers of commerce, and
farmers.
“The Minnesota Department of Health utilizes America’s Health Rankings
as a true driver for change,” said Paul Jarris, M.D., MBA, executive
director of ASTHO. “We are proud of the leadership the state has shown
using these indicators to address smoking, obesity, diabetes, infant
mortality and other health issues.”
“With America’s Health Rankings, it is essential to focus not only on
reporting health results, but improving them,” said Reed Tuckson, M.D.,
senior medical adviser to United Health Foundation. “The full title of
the report is America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for
Individuals & Their Communities. The call to action is an essential
component of the mission of this project. As such, we are excited by,
and appreciative of the work done by the Minnesota Department of Health
to use this report for targeted and effective action in service to
advancing optimal health for their state.”
About America’s Health Rankings
America’s Health Rankings®
is the longest-running report of its kind. For 23 years, the Rankings
has provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by
evaluating a historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental
and socioeconomic data to determine national health benchmarks and state
rankings. The Rankings employs a unique methodology, developed and
annually reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public
health scholars. The data in the report come from well-recognized
outside sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
American Medical Association, FBI, Dartmouth Atlas Project, U.S.
Department of Education and Census Bureau. The report is reviewed and
overseen by a Scientific Advisory Committee, with members from leading
academic institutions, government agencies and the private sector. For
more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
About ASTHO
ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization
representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S.
territories, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than
100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO
members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are
dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and
to ensuring excellence in state-based public health practice. Web: www.astho.org;
Twitter: @ASTHO.
About United Health Foundation
Guided by a passion to help
people live healthier lives, United Health Foundation provides helpful
information to support decisions that lead to better health outcomes and
healthier communities. The Foundation also supports activities that
expand access to quality health care services for those in challenging
circumstances and partners with others to improve the well-being of
communities. After its establishment by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE:UNH] in
1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation, the Foundation has
committed more than $210 million to improve health and health care. For
additional information, please visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
Twitter: @AHR_Rankings
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericasHealthRankings
Website:
www.americashealthrankings.org
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Copyright Business Wire 2013