Wyoming Falls in Health Rankings
Written by Andrew-Rossi on December 28, 2017
A recent report ranks Wyoming as the 26th healthiest state in the country, reaching its poorest ranking since 2001.
The report by the advocacy group United Health Foundation evaluated states on 35 factors in five categories that included behaviors, clinical care and outcomes. The state received high scores for its low number of cancer deaths, low diabetes numbers and low air pollution levels.
According to an article in the Casper Star-Tribune, the America’s Health Rankings report indicates the state was dragged down by high work-related deaths, the high level of uninsured and a poor record of immunizations.
Val Walsh-Haines with the West Park Hospital Prevention and Wellness Office says that ten years ago, Wyoming ranked last in the nation for preventative colon cancer screenings, but that number has come around in the last few years.
Wyoming received a better rating than some other states in the West like Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. Wyoming’s overall health ranking has generally stayed in the 20s over the past couple of decades.