Pierce County Health Concerns
What are the most important public health issues in Pierce County? That’s the question the Pierce County Health Department is asking in a series of community workshops.
The Health Department, in partnership with Multicare and Franciscan health systems, is in the process of developing a Community Health Improvement Plan, which will prioritize community health issues and concerns. As a part of that process, the Health Department is asking community members to help in identifying key concerns by sharing comments, ideas, and input at a series of public meetings being held through January.
Once complete, the CHIP will include specific action steps on behalf of organizations from across the county to employ their resources, specific mission and particular focus to address the health needs of the county. Non-profit organizations, public agencies, businesses and other entities will be able to use the plan to focus their attention and resources on the most critical community health issues in our county.
What do you think the most important public health issue is for Pierce County? Obesity, diabetes, health equity, and health care reform are some suggestions from the health department – what do you see?
Filed under: Elsewhere, Pierce County
3 comments
F fred davie December 7, 2012
I would theorize that unemploymnent is the biggest unrecognized health problem in the county.
People who are unemployed are frequently associated with alcohol abuse, drug abuse, spousal and child abuse, deviant and dangerous behaviors of all sorts including crime and are more prone to poor self esteem, depression, feelings of worthlessness and even, on occasion, suicide. Yet health officials frequently target these symptoms and not the underlying cause.
W William Swigart December 8, 2012
Seems to me that Public Health should most definitely have an Adult Health Clinic open to those over 16 with a “pay what you can or according to guideline schedule if in doubt” where adults can quickly be tested for and treated when needed for sexually transmitted diseases. That would be a high priority in my thinking.
J JJ December 9, 2012
I would say that global warming climate change is the #1 threat not only to human life and health but to most other species as well yet oddly no mention of it at the TPCHD website.Active transportation could be mentioned along with combating obesity as well as other methods of living a healthier lifestyle to prevent health problems.Also with climate change insect disease vectors will be more common as well