County Health Report Ranks Philadelphia Last In Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in conjunction with University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, developed a County Health Ranking Report. Philadelphia is ranked last out of all 67 counties in the Pennsylvania. Some surrounding counties did far better.
Chester County ranked number three, Montgomery was fifth followed by Bucks at six. Delaware was middle of the pack at 36th.
One reality that kept emerging in this nationwide study, which looked at access to healthcare, behaviors, education, jobs and the environment, is that the larger urban counties had poorer health statistics then the suburban counties surrounding them even if they were in close proximity.
Patrick Remington, Associate Dean for Public Health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health says Philadelphians should have access to all the resources they need to live healthy lives.
"I think just looking at the map of Pennsylvania you have a classic situation with the least healthy county, Philadelphia, is surrounded by some of the healthiest places," Remington said. "And it's really not acceptable to have people who have opportunities for good health but aren't being provided them where they live."
Remington suggests that lawmakers look beyond the border of their district because the overall health of their region is at stake.
Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio
