2013 CHNA Key Findings

Based on the findings of the CHNA, the priority areas that will be addressed in community health improvement planning over the next three years:

  • Poverty and Unemployment
  • Health Care Access and Utilization
  • Mental Health and Substance Use

Priority 1: Poverty and Unemployment

  • People in poverty are more likely to engage in risky health behaviors, and are also less likely to have affordable housing
  • Racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to live in poverty than Non-Hispanic whites

Source: NC institute of Medicine. Healthy North Carolina 2020: A Better State of Health. Morrisville, NC: NC Institute of Medicine; 2011

  • In 2012, there were 4,547 reported lay-offs in Wake County (NC Employment Security Commission, Labor market Information, Workforce Information, Employed, Unemployed and Employment Rates, Labor Force Statistics)
  • The poverty rate in Wake County is 37% lower than the rate in North Carolina (Log Into North Carolina (LINC) Database, Topic Group Employment and Income)
  • The percent of African-American residents who live in poverty is 2.4 times higher than their white peers (Log Into North Carolina (LINC) Database, Topic Group Employment and Income)
  • Unemployment rated #1 community concern in Wake County and poverty rated #4 (2013 Wake County Community Health Opinion Survey)

Priority 2: Health Care Access and Utilization

  • Health insurance coverage helps patients get into the health care system
  • Uninsured people are:
    • Less likely to receive medical care
    • More likely to die early
    •  More likely to have poor health status
  • Access to comprehensive, quality health care services is important for:
    • The achievement of health equity
    • Increasing the quality of a healthy life for everyone

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020.

  • For every 1,000 hospital stays in Wake County, 50 are considered preventable (Hospitalization rate for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions per 1,000 Medicare enrollees, 2010, Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care) 
  • 6% of residents in Wake County reported that they use the Emergency Room as a place they most often go to when sick (2013 Wake County Community Health opinion Survey)
  • 70% of Wake County residents reported that they got a routine health check up in the past year (2013 Wake County Community Health Opinion Survey)

Priority 3: Mental Health and Substance Abuse

  • Individuals with poor mental health may have difficulties with interpersonal relationships, productivity in school or the workplace, and overall sense of well-being 
  • Substance use and abuse are major contributors to death and disability in North Carolina

Source: NC Institute of Medicine. Healthy North Carolina 2020: A Better State of Health. Morrisville, NC: NC Institute of Medicine; 2011

  • 17% of Wake County adults reported being diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives (2013 Wake County Community Health Opinion Survey)
  • 15% of Wake county residents binge drink (Males having five or more drinks on one occasion OR females having four or more drinks on one occasion) (County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, 2013)
  • The number of Wake County residents being served in state drug and alcohol treatment centers has increased, from 30 in 2005 to 140 in 2010 (Log Into North Carolina (LINC) Database, Topic Group Vital Statistics and Health)
  • Drug and alcohol abuse rated #4 community concern (2013 Wake County Community Health Opinion Survey)