Nebraska moves into top 10 of healthiest states in U.S.

In a report issued by the United Health Foundation earlier this month, Nebraska moved up one notch after ranking No. 11 last year. The five states surrounding Nebraska ranked between 18 and 36.

“We are heading in the right direction,” said Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. “With a real concerted effort, we can reach No. 1 by 2020.”

Since joining UNMC in July, Dr. Khan has traveled across the state to talk about how to improve the state’s health indicators. He supports UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., and his strategic goal to work with all health systems and private and community partners to help make Nebraska the healthiest state in the union by 2020.

The report, “America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for Individuals and their Communities,” analyzed the health of the nation holistically with in-depth data and analysis. Its focus is on behaviors, community and environment, policy and clinical care to provide a comprehensive picture of the nation’s health. Indicators are: low birth weight, smoking, obesity, drug deaths, physical inactivity and adolescent immunizations.

For the good news, Nebraska ranks:

• First – High rate of high school graduation. In the past two years, high school graduation increased 12 percent from 82.9 percent to 93 percent for incoming ninth graders. Nebraska is tied with Vermont for the highest graduation rate in the nation.

• Second – High immunization coverage among children. In the past year, immunization coverage among children increased by 9 percent from 72.6 percent to 79 percent for children aged 19 to 35 months.

• Third – Low rate of drug deaths.

• 10th - In the past year, the number of children in poverty decreased by 27 percent from 19.6 percent to 14.3 percent.

• 24th – In the past year, preventable hospitalizations decreased by 13 percent from 63.8 to 55.8 per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries.

In areas that need work, Nebraska ranks:

• 16th – In the past two years, the percentage of adults with diabetes increased 10 percent from 8.4 percent to 9.2 percent.

• 21st – Percentage of adults who are smokers (self-report smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke).

• 23rd – Public health funding.

• 27th – Percentage of adults who are obese.

• 44th – Percentage of adults who self-report drinking alcoholic beverages on at least one occasion in the last month: women - four or more drinks at one sitting; men - five or more drinks at one sitting.

This marks the 25th year that UHF has issued state rankings in partnership with the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention.

America’s Health Rankings is the longest-running report of its kind. It provides 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 employ a unique methodology that is developed and annually reviewed and overseen 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 the Census Bureau.

To view the rankings in full, go to http://www.americashealthrankings.org.

How the states rank

Here are the top 10 states in the rankings:

1. Hawaii

2. Vermont

3. Massachusetts

4. Connecticut

5. Utah

6. Minnesota

7. New Hampshire

8. Colorado

9. North Dakota

10. Nebraska