Nebraska leads the nation when it comes to the number of critical access
hospitals designated hospitals that receive federal funds to strengthen
rural health. This and other information is available in The Nebraska
Health Information Project: 2001 Databook, the latest report on the health
status of Nebraskans.
Of 570 hospitals with critical access hospital designation, Nebraska
has 54, or almost 10 percent of the nations total. The number has significantly
increased since the last report in 1999, when there were seven Nebraska
hospitals with the designation.
Its a credit to Nebraska, the state agencies and hospital association
that weve been able to help the hospitals achieve this status, said Keith
Mueller, Ph.D., UNMC professor of preventive and societal medicine. The
absence of hospitals in many Nebraska communities would pose a real hardship
on people in the community, especially those without easy access to transportation.
Other highlights in the databook include a projected 122 percent population
increase of Hispanics and 82 percent of other minorities by 2025. Also
projected is a shortage of advanced-trained emergency response volunteers
and a continued shortage of all health professionals.
The databook also contains current statistics, such as the five leading
causes of death in Nebraskans, which are: heart disease (4,192), cancer
(3,380), cerebrovascular disease (1,090), chronic lung disease (724) and
accidents (637). About 21 percent of Nebraskans smoke cigarettes.
The 200-page databook is tailored to policymakers, administrators, advocates,
educators and researchers and addresses statistics on availability, cost
and quality of health-care in Nebraska, as well as information on potentially
preventable hospitalizations. It also is intended to help identify priorities
for investing state dollars for the improvement of health-care delivery
in the state.
The book is organized by demographics, health professionals, health-care
facilities, insurance and health expenditures, health status, and hospital
discharges. The information can be used as a measure of success of health-care
access, as well as cost and quality of health-care in Nebraska.
Latest Nebraska demographics point to a rapidly aging population from
1995 to 2025, there will be a projected 77 percent population increase
of people age 65 and over. Dr. Mueller said this trend will impact the
economy, including health-care.
The population of Hispanics is projected to increase 122 percent, from
50,000 in 1995, to an estimated 111,000 in 2025. In other minorities (including
African-American), the population is expected to increase 82 percent, from
64,000 in 1995 to an estimated 109,000 in 2025.
In health-care, this means we need to continue to look at issues like
cultural competency, Dr. Mueller said. We also need to provide more access
to health-care by looking at policies to expand opportunities for health
insurance coverage.
Dr. Mueller said latest data on health insurance show 10 percent of
Nebraskans are without health insurance. Our population is still vulnerable,
but we are better off than the national average of 14 percent, he said.
One of the reasons may be because of the increase in the enrollment of
children in Kids Connection.
From October 2000 to 2001, enrollment went from 109,000 to 130,000.
Its notable, especially when its helping to keep down the numbers of
uninsured.
Kids Connection is a childrens health insurance program that provides
health-care to low-income uninsured children across Nebraska.
This years databook contains more in-depth information on the state
of emergency medical care.
Dr. Mueller said Nebraska has a good distribution of emergency medical
technicians (EMT) with basic licenses across Nebraska, but falls short
in the numbers of those with intermediate EMT and paramedic licenses.
We have a pretty good distribution of licensed EMTs in the state but
when we look at more advanced licenses who can do more at the scene, Nebraska
doesnt have near the same distribution. In central Nebraska and the Sandhills,
there are no first responders with intermediate or paramedic licenses,
Dr. Mueller said. We also know theres an aging of the current volunteers
and were also concerned about whether younger volunteers will fill the
roles. Were covered right now but the concern is whether we can continue
that.
Since 1994, the databook has been published every two years by the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Nebraska
Center for Rural Health Research at the University of Nebraska Medical
Center, and the Nebraska Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.
A hard copy of the databook is available for $45, the book and compact
disk for $55 or the CD alone for $20. To get a copy, call the UNMC Bookstore
in Omaha at 1-800-454-2665 or (402) 559-4455.