December 11, 2012
Tennessee again makes strides in U.S. health rankings
JOHNSON CITY Tennessee continues to receive encouraging news about its overall health,
according to a report released today that assigned a numerical ranking to all 50 states.
Though Tennessee stands at No. 39 in the 2012 edition of "America's Health Rankings"
the same as last year a number of indicators that helped determine the overall ranking
are reason for the state's residents to take heart. Each December, there is great
anticipation in particular at the East Tennessee State University College of Public
Health, which regards the rankings as a barometer to gauge whether the state is moving
ahead or slipping back.
Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of the ETSU College of Public Health, said Tennessee clearly
has forward momentum. He said one of the most encouraging markers is the Volunteer
State's high school graduation rate, which is the nation's 24th best.
"For the first time since United Health Foundation began compiling this record, our
state is now above the national average in terms of high school graduation rate, which
bodes well for the future of Tennessee," Wykoff said. "As recently as 2005, we were
47th for the percentage of students who graduate."
United Health Foundation began reporting "America's Health Rankings" in 1990. The
organization collates a wide spectrum of data points for such things obesity, childhood
immunizations, primary care physicians per capita and public health funding.
Another positive indicator for Tennessee's future, Wykoff said, is the ranking for
health determinants. Health determinants are the behaviors, social factors and related
activities that reflect what people are doing to be healthier. In this area, Tennessee
has improved to 35th. Health outcomes, which measure the state's illness and death
rates, tend to reflect health behaviors from years past and, therefore, lag behind
determinants. Tennessee currently ranks 42nd for health outcomes, so Wykoff said it
stands to reason that, over time, outcomes will catch up and improve the state's overall
ranking.
ETSU has become well-known for the button pins that the College of Public Health produces
each year in conjunction with the rankings. Wykoff knows them so well that he can
rattle off where Tennessee has landed from 2005 through 2012: "48, 47, 46, 47, 44,
42, 39, 39," Wykoff said.
The college has given away thousands of button pins that bear the ranking with a slash
through the numeral, and this year, ETSU can simply do a re-order of the slashed 39.
Last year's ranking was regarded as a watershed moment because it was Tennessee's
highest ranking ever.
"We've been moving in the right direction," Wykoff said. "While 39th is a great improvement
over the recent past, there's still much work to be done. It will take a concerted,
combined effort by businesses, schools, faith-based institutions and, most importantly,
families and individuals to keep us trending upward."
The complete rankings are available at www.americashealthrankings.com
