Below you can read our findings based on our various sources of data. If you would like to dig deeper into a specific subject, select a category from the menu to the left below Community Dashboard.
July 2017
Neighborhoods and Food Resources
For many people, the summer months mean longer days and a slower pace, with more time spent on porches and in backyards and connecting with both neighbors and neighborhoods. The communities where we live are important to our overall health and wellbeing. Access to resources and exposures to environmental hazards vary widely throughout the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, and in many cases, the distribution of resources is linked with the socioeconomic status of a neighborhood’s residents. Using data from the most recent Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey (SEPA HHS), this article examines socioeconomic status and neighborhood level access to one important resource: quality groceries.
June 2017
Men's Health in Southeastern Pennsylvania
June is Men’s Health Month. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This month gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.i.
November, 2016
Cigarette Smoking in Southeastern Pennsylvania
The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, which will be taking place on Thursday, November 17th, encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), by quitting—even for one day—smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk. In the United States, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death. Yet, some 42 million Americans, 17% of adults, still smoke cigarettes.
October, 2016
Promote Preventive Screenings for Female Breast Health in Southeastern Pennsylvania
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease and to encourage preventive measures and early detection. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics and Research, in 2008-2012, (the most recent years available) – 3,204 women in Southeastern Pennsylvania were diagnosed with breast cancer, and an average of 664 of those women died from the disease. The mortality rate from female breast cancer in Southeastern Pennsylvania is 25.6 deaths per 100,000 women. This does not meet the Healthy People 2020 goal of 20.7 deaths per 100,000 women.
September, 2016
PHMC's Community Health Data Base: Utilizing Big Data for Small Area Strategic Planning
Do you ever wonder how to create meaningful public health programs with the scarce resources that are available? The best way to ensure that resources are used most effectively is to utilize real time and objective data to develop strategy to drive business development decisions. Data-driven program development supports the alignment of services with the needs of the market. The outcome is sound business practices related to increasing market share and controlling costs. Now more than ever, to sustain long-term profitability, organizations need to rethink the role of data in corporate-wide planning and development efforts.