MONROE - According to recent health rankings, Lafayette County folks fare better in overall health than those in Green County based on the lifespan of their residents; Green County was noted as No. 33 among 72 Wisconsin counties, while Lafayette sat at No. 14.
However, in factors that influence the health of people in each county, Green County was ranked No. 12 in the state while Lafayette County sat much lower at No. 44.
The rankings list, recently released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, indicates 30 life factors that contribute to overall health.
Joni Marty, assistant director of the Green County Health Department, said counties use the rankings list to evaluate areas in need of improvement.
"You always want to rank better," Marty said. "It's nice to see how the county sits now."
For the past three years, Green County has been following a health improvement plan for residents. The effort has been compiled by the health department, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and Monroe Clinic. Issues being focused on include improving public mental health, decreasing drug abuse and improving nutrition.
In clinical care, 9 percent of Green County's population is uninsured, lower than the 11 percent recorded in the entire state and much lower than the national rate of more than 15 percent. The numbers have remained roughly the same since 2009.
Marty said clinical care has trended well over time because of easily accessible health care.
"It's one of our strengths," she said.
Lafayette County has seen similar benefits, though the reports did provide negative news as well.
Premature deaths are a main area of concern for Green County. This statistic is measured by years lost up to age 75. If a 65-year-old were measured by the process, it would account for 10 years of life lost. For a 25-year-old, it would be 50 years. The mean number for the state is 6,000 years per each 100,000 in population. In Green County, the number of years is 6,100, and the rankings indicate that trend has not improved since 2011.
"You always want to prevent premature deaths," Marty said. "It's still an area for us to explore."
Marty said the issue is one the county has focused on improving and will most likely incorporate into the health improvement plan. She added that some of the reasons for premature death are less preventable than others, such as car accidents.
In Lafayette County, premature death years totaled 5,300 and quality of life was on track with the state average of 15 percent. The number of uninsured residents has stayed on trend with 15 percent; higher than the Wisconsin rate, but lower than the national average. Lafayette County Health Department director Maura Trimble did not respond to calls requesting comment.
Both counties have followed the state trend of more children living in poverty. In Green County, the rate for child poverty is 12 percent while in Lafayette it is 19 percent. The Wisconsin rate is 18 percent.
However, in factors that influence the health of people in each county, Green County was ranked No. 12 in the state while Lafayette County sat much lower at No. 44.
The rankings list, recently released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, indicates 30 life factors that contribute to overall health.
Joni Marty, assistant director of the Green County Health Department, said counties use the rankings list to evaluate areas in need of improvement.
"You always want to rank better," Marty said. "It's nice to see how the county sits now."
For the past three years, Green County has been following a health improvement plan for residents. The effort has been compiled by the health department, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and Monroe Clinic. Issues being focused on include improving public mental health, decreasing drug abuse and improving nutrition.
In clinical care, 9 percent of Green County's population is uninsured, lower than the 11 percent recorded in the entire state and much lower than the national rate of more than 15 percent. The numbers have remained roughly the same since 2009.
Marty said clinical care has trended well over time because of easily accessible health care.
"It's one of our strengths," she said.
Lafayette County has seen similar benefits, though the reports did provide negative news as well.
Premature deaths are a main area of concern for Green County. This statistic is measured by years lost up to age 75. If a 65-year-old were measured by the process, it would account for 10 years of life lost. For a 25-year-old, it would be 50 years. The mean number for the state is 6,000 years per each 100,000 in population. In Green County, the number of years is 6,100, and the rankings indicate that trend has not improved since 2011.
"You always want to prevent premature deaths," Marty said. "It's still an area for us to explore."
Marty said the issue is one the county has focused on improving and will most likely incorporate into the health improvement plan. She added that some of the reasons for premature death are less preventable than others, such as car accidents.
In Lafayette County, premature death years totaled 5,300 and quality of life was on track with the state average of 15 percent. The number of uninsured residents has stayed on trend with 15 percent; higher than the Wisconsin rate, but lower than the national average. Lafayette County Health Department director Maura Trimble did not respond to calls requesting comment.
Both counties have followed the state trend of more children living in poverty. In Green County, the rate for child poverty is 12 percent while in Lafayette it is 19 percent. The Wisconsin rate is 18 percent.