Public Health: Ready or Not?

The eighth annual 2010 Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bio-terrorism report is finished and available. This annual report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks to inform the public and policymakers about the status of public health preparedness in the United States. This year, the report focuses on reviewing state and federal public health emergency preparedness. Each state was given a score of 1-10 based on 10 indicators of best practices in emergency management. Indicators range from "State increased or maintained level of funding or public health services from FY 2008-09 to FY 2009-10" to "State requires all licensed childcare facilities to have a multi-hazard written evacuation and relocation plan". To read the entire report, click here.

So, how did Ohio score? Ohio received a 9 out of 10. The only indicator that Ohio needs to improve is that we do not send and receive electronic health information to health care providers and community health centers. All in all, 9 is a great score. Only three states received 10 out of 10 (Arkansas, North Dakota, and Washington). Eleven states scored 9, eighteen states scored 8, Seven states and D.C. scored 7, nine states scored 6, and two states scored 5 out of 10. I think Ohio is doing very well, and we have room to improve.

Way to go, Ohio!