County Health Rankings: Olmsted County Ranks 9 in overall health

The County Health Rankings show us that where we live matters to our health. The health of a community depends on many different factors – ranging from individual health behaviors, education and jobs, to quality of health care, to the environment. This first-of-its-kind collection of 50 reports – one per state – helps community leaders see that where we live, learn, work, and play influences how healthy we are and how long we live. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is collaborating with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to develop these Rankings for each state's counties. This model has been used to rank the health of counties in Wisconsin for the past six years. 

The report ranks both health outcomes and health factors in order to highlight the wide array of issues that determine health in local communities. Health outcomes include measures for mortality and morbidity. Health factors are the things that determine our future health including individual behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and our physical environment.

Olmsted County ranked nine (9) in health outcomes and number 1 in health factors.  Clinical care and health behaviors were highlighted as areas of particular strength for us, along with social and economic factors. We ranked lowest in the area of physical environment mainly due to air quality concerns.   "This community has a long history of working together to develop solutions to problems.  Our commitment to health, our innovativation in finding solutions, and the collaborative partnerships that have been established have helped pave the way for Olmsted County to be ranked as one of the healthiest communities in the state," says Mary Wellik, Director of Olmsted County Public Health Services.

The County Health Rankings is the first report to use a standard formula to measure the health of the more than 3,000 counties across the United States. The rankings are designed to compare the health of counties within each state; they do not compare counties in Minnesota with counties in other states.
Minnesota's local public health organizations already use a variety of methods to assess and measure the health of local communities. The goal of the County Health Rankings is to spur discussion and action across all sectors of community – including government, business, community and faith-based groups, education and public health – to improve the health of Minnesotans.

The County Health Rankings are available for at www.countyhealthrankings.org. 

   
For Volunteers
Olmsted County Public Health Services has formed a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and is looking for non-medical and retired medical community members who are interested in volunteering. The Medical Reserve Corps is community-based and functions as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources.

Individuals who have specific question are asked to contact Amy Evans at (507) 328-7425, or email MRCofOlmstedCounty@co.olmsted.mn.us.  For more information about the MRC can be found at www.medicalreservecorps.gov/HomePage.
Olmsted County residents can register on line at www.mnresponds.org