Is Kimball County the unhealthiest in the state? Maybe, maybe not

Kimball County was recently named the unhealthiest county in Nebraska, based on information gathered by CountyHealthRankings.org – even though the ratings included data from just 78 of 93 counties in the state.

According to the report, local residents report feeling physically or mentally ill more often than the national average.

“Of course this is a subject that has certainly caught our eye and we met with the health department,” said Ken Hunter, CEO of Kimball Health Services. “We know things can improve in Western Nebraska, and we, as the hospital, can be very proactive. Also, at the same time, statistics can kind of show what you want them to.”

According to data collected, the state average ratio for primary care physicians is 1,405 to one, but Kimball County had no primary care physicians information reported - which may be misleading.

The study did not include information from 15 of the lower-population counties in Nebraska. Some of the criteria used include data regarding teen births, sexually transmitted infections, number of providers, dentists and mental health professionals, as well as access to healthy food and exercise opportunities.

Kimball County adults are reportedly engaging in behaviors that also contribute to low health scores, including smoking, obesity and alcohol-related driving deaths, according to the study.

According to data, residents here have access to healthy food, but opportunities for exercise is at 75 percent compared to 81 percent state average. Alcohol-related driving deaths in the county are at 67 percent, nearly double the state average of 35 percent.

Social and economic information gathered includes a lower percentage of adults with some college, a higher percentage of children in poverty, and a higher percentage of children in single-parent homes. One of the more shocking numbers is 132 injury deaths compared to the state average of 54.

Hunter explained that access to health care and a lack of prosperity do effect health, and those in rural areas may suffer worse health than those in metro areas due to reduced income, lack of insurance and reduced access.

“We have a number of different programs going that we think will improve the overall population’s health,” Hunter said. “We took the report very seriously and have already started a number of programs in response to it.”

According to KHS Foundation Director Kerry Ferguson, some of the efforts taken include the reduced cost health fair and flu clinic set for Oct. 23-24 at the Kimball Health Services North Campus, formerly West Elementary School.

“At the health fair, residents can receive low-cost blood testing and free vital sign testing as a community service to help residents identify health problems before they become life-threatening,” Ferguson said. “The flu clinic, to be conducted by hospital and clinic staff, offers a $25 vaccination to those 10 and over to protect themselves against the flu. Drive-through and walk-in service will be available on the south end of the building.”

The Community Health Improvement Plan, implemented in 2012, is the result of ongoing efforts of area communities committed to improving the health status of residents of the Nebraska Panhandle.

This plan, based on the 2011 Community Health Assessment for the panhandle of Nebraska, serves as a road map to promote better health, with a focus on healthy living, mental and emotional well-being, injury and violence prevention and cancer prevention.

Robin Tjosvold, Kimball Health Services’ community health and wellness coordinator, offers several lifestyle impacting classes that address these areas of concern and that are open to the public.

This includes a popular diabetes prevention program, which is designed to help people improve their health, lose weight and reduce their risk of developing diabetes. It is scheduled to begin another year-long session at the North Campus this fall.

Tjosvold also offers the Circle of Security parenting class, a relationship-based parent education model to help identify children’s needs and increase children’s happiness, confidence and sense of security.

The hospital makes the North Campus available for several other health-related activities including a dance fitness class, a yoga class, Jiu-Jitsu and Tai Chi classes.

Ferguson also said the hospital leases space at the North Campus to Volunteers of America to operate the Kimball County Childcare Center and After School Program, a non-profit program offering child care services 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Also, the Kimball Hospital Foundation recently donated its former office building at 414 West 2nd Street to Kimball Health Services, which is now leasing the building to Panhandle Mental Health Center for its new satellite office in Kimball. PMHC’s mission is dedicated to providing quality behavioral health services that encourage healthy lifestyles.