RSSWilliamson County is Healthiest in Texas: Newly Released Study Offers Proof of Safety Net Success
(February 18, 2010) WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS – The County Health Rankings released yesterday by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Williamson County was ranked number one in Texas in overall health. The study measured two main areas: Health Outcomes and Health Factors. Williamson was ranked first in health factors and fifth in health outcomes, which combined to give the county the highest overall ranking.
Lone Star Circle of Care (LSCC), the main safety net health care provider in Williamson County, has had a major, positive impact on the health of area residents since the organization’s inception in 2002. Having experienced continued and dramatic growth in recent years, LSCC now has 17 clinics (15 of which are in Williamson County) and nearly 50,000 patients—most of whom previously had little or no access to primary care services.
“This study provides definitive proof that Lone Star Circle of Care has made a significant and measurable impact on the health of our community,” said Jayne Pope, CEO of Clinical Services for LSCC. “While we rigorously measure our own performance in order to ensure the highest quality of care and determine the needs of our patients, it is very encouraging to see our success put into a broader context. There are several elements in this study that can be directly tied to the care LSCC is providing to our patients.”
Lone Star Circle of Care & Williamson County Health Outcomes
Many of the measures used in the Health Outcomes category are impacted by the work of Lone Star Circle of Care, including physical health, mental health and birth outcomes. For example, Williamson County ranked in the 90th percentile for low birthweight, the measure that was used to determine Health Outcomes. It is widely accepted that the prevalence of low birthweight can be directly linked to the mother’s access to quality, consistent prenatal care throughout her pregnancy. LSCC’s OB/GYN service line provides prenatal care, labor and delivery for more than 1,000 women each year. In 2009, LSCC delivered 1,044 babies in Williamson County, and only 5% of those were classified as low birthweight.
Lone Star Circle of Care & Williamson County Health Factors
The study’s Health Factors category measured a variety of health influencers, including individual health behaviors, social and economic factors, physical environment (e.g., air pollution) and clinical care. Some of the data measured in the clinical care subcategory are directly and strongly affected by LSCC. The study measured the area’s number of preventable hospital stays, which has been proven to be reduced by access to primary care for the uninsured and underinsured. Nationwide, patients in underserved areas served by community health centers had 5.8 fewer hospitalizations per 1,000 people over 3 years than those in areas not served by health centers. In addition, the study used diabetic screening rates as one measure of the area’s clinical care. Williamson County scored above the 90th percentile on this measure. LSCC currently has 1,765 diabetic patients, and rigorously tracks the regularity of their blood sugar screenings using an electronic health records system.
In general, the County Health Rankings found that one of the major factors that influenced the overall ranking—and health—of counties nationwide was access to health care providers. LSCC employs over 50 primary health care providers, and each of them accepts any and all patients, regardless of income, employment status, or residency.
“This is a perfect time to thank the people of Williamson County for their support of LSCC’s mission,” said Pope. “Local organizations, community and business leaders, and of course our partners in the healthcare industry have worked together in recent years to improve the health of our area, and we certainly all have reason to celebrate. However, we should not allow our collective and well-earned sense of accomplishment to distract us from the work and efforts that must be undertaken to expand access and address a myriad of health related issues not directly measured by this study.”
About Lone Star Circle of Care
Founded in 2002 in Georgetown, Texas, Lone Star Circle of Care (LSCC) is a federally qualified community health center committed to the energetic and steadfast pursuit of quality, accessible and sustainable health care for the uninsured and underserved in Central Texas. Currently operating 17 clinics, LSCC provides adults and children with primary care, general dentistry, women’s health and OB/GYN, including labor and delivery, psychiatry and behavioral health services. LSCC is a registered 501©3 Texas non-profit organization. For more information visit www.lscctx.org.
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Media Contact
If you are a member of the media and would like to speak to a representative from Lone Star Circle of Care, please contact:
Rebekah Haynes
Director of Communications
512-686-0207, ext. 10171
rhaynes@lscctx.org
Publications
- Annual Report: 2009 Annual Report [April 23, 2010]