Release of America’s Health Rankings

by James DeChene

Earlier today (December 15, 2016) United Health Foundation released the 27th America’s Health Rankings Annual Report. As the longest-running annual assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis, the report showcases positive trends in the health of the nation, as well as concerning upticks in several key indicators.

Among the report’s findings:

• The report found a continued high prevalence of obesity in the U.S. population. Obesity impacts nearly 3 out of 10 U.S. adults across the country. In Delaware, obesity impacts 29.7 percent of adults.

• The report also found the rate of drug deaths nationwide has increased 4 percent in the past year, for a nationwide average of 14 deaths per 100,000 population. In Delaware, the rate is 18.1 deaths per 100,000 population.
  

Also of note, is that Delaware ranks 47th in the number of dentists per capita and 17th in the number of primary care physicians. Recently the debate over DIMER/DIDER funding has reemerged as an important budget issue for the state. DIMER/DIDER reserve slots for Delaware applicants only at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple. Delaware applicants only compete against other Delaware applicants for admission to reserve slots – not against the universe of applicants. For example, at SKMC, Delawareans have a 1 in 4 chance of being admitted to their reserved slots. The odds for applicants from any other state being admitted are approximately 1 in 40.

Please refer to the America’s Health Rankings website for additional information.