September 17, 2007
Warning signs | A new report outlines the most pressing health care issues among Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems' 23 hospitals
By Kerry Elson
In late July, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Brewer released the final version of its report on health care in northern, eastern and central Maine. The goal of the 232-page tome is to outline health care needs for the next five years to help area health care providers best allocate their resources.
The report surveys seven study areas that EMHS's 23 hospitals serve: Bangor, Aroostook, Penquis, Washington, Hancock, Central and Knox-Waldo. With more than 500,000 total residents, the study areas comprise nearly 40% of Maine's total population.
Below are highlights from the report, grouped by study area. While the report doesn't focus on reasons for health care improvements or needs, it does offer some, which we've included below.
CENTRAL (includes Waterville, Skowhegan, Pittsfield)
Total population, 2005: 117,101
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 26%
Since 2001: down 4%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 21%
Since 2001: down 6.8%
Obesity
2006: 33%
Since 2001: up 8.5%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 25%
Since 2001: up 4.7%
To reduce the number of missed medical appointments, Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield implemented a free transportation service last year that has been used widely. It could be a model for other rural hospitals, the study says.
AROOSTOOK (includes Presque Isle, Houlton, Caribou, Fort Kent, Fort Fairfield)
Total population, 2005: 71,977
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 26%
Since 2001: down 6.1%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 22%
Since 2001: down 2.6%
Obesity
2006: 33%
Since 2001: up 10%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 32%
Since 2001: up 8.2%
The Aroostook region saw the greatest decrease in hospital visits for respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, falling more than 100% from 2001 to 2006. The reason is better outpatient management of such conditions, Jerry Whalen, vice president for business development at EMHS, reasons.
BANGOR
Total population, 2005: 126,579
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 22%
Since 2001: down 8.1%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 17%
Since 2001: down 6.4%
Obesity
2006: 24%
Since 2001: down 2.5%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 21%
Since 2001: up 0.7%
Bangor was the lone study area to see a decrease in obesity. Jerry Whalen of EMHS says the healthier profile is due to the Bangor Region Wellness Council. About 75 businesses in the area pay for the council's workplace wellness services.
HANCOCK (includes Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Bar Harbor)
Total population, 2005: 49,097
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 27%
Since 2001: up 1.9%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 17%
Since 2001: down 7.9%
Obesity
2006: 26%
Since 2001: up 8%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 22%
Since 2001: up 3.5%
Of all the study areas, Hancock has the greatest uninsured rates for residents age 65 or older. But the figure did fall from 23.9% in 2001 to 18.9% in 2006.
KNOX-WALDO (includes Rockland and Belfast)
Total population, 2005: 69,494
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 20%
Since 2001: down 0.8%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 19%
Since 2001: down 6.2%
Obesity
2006: 24%
Since 2001: up 3.2%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 26%
Since 2001: up 3.2%
The Knox-Waldo region was the only study area where the proportion of adults without a regular source of care was below state levels. While 12.3% of adults have no regular source of care statewide, the figure is 9.8% in Knox-Waldo.
PENQUIS (includes Dover-Foxcroft, Millinocket, Lincoln, Greenville)
Total population, 2005: 44,228
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 25%
Since 2001: down 1.2%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 24%
Since 2001: down 20%
Obesity
2006: 33%
Since 2001: up 4.8%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 29%
Since 2001: up 8.2%
Demand for health care is greatest in the Aroostook and Penquis regions, the study notes, because of the regions' high percentage of elderly residents. In the Penquis region, 18% of residents are 65 or older, compared to 14% statewide.
WASHINGTON (includes Calais and Machias)
Total population, 2005: 26,966
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 29%
Since 2001: up 1.9%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 28%
Since 2001: up 0.4%
Obesity
2006: 30%
Since 2001: up 2.1%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 25%
Since 2001: down 3.3%
The Washington region faces significant barriers to good health care, with 19% of its population living below the poverty level, the highest percentage of all study areas.
Kerry Elson, Mainebiz staff reporter, can be reached at kelson@mainebiz.biz.
The report surveys seven study areas that EMHS's 23 hospitals serve: Bangor, Aroostook, Penquis, Washington, Hancock, Central and Knox-Waldo. With more than 500,000 total residents, the study areas comprise nearly 40% of Maine's total population.
Below are highlights from the report, grouped by study area. While the report doesn't focus on reasons for health care improvements or needs, it does offer some, which we've included below.
CENTRAL (includes Waterville, Skowhegan, Pittsfield)
Total population, 2005: 117,101
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 26%
Since 2001: down 4%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 21%
Since 2001: down 6.8%
Obesity
2006: 33%
Since 2001: up 8.5%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 25%
Since 2001: up 4.7%
To reduce the number of missed medical appointments, Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield implemented a free transportation service last year that has been used widely. It could be a model for other rural hospitals, the study says.
AROOSTOOK (includes Presque Isle, Houlton, Caribou, Fort Kent, Fort Fairfield)
Total population, 2005: 71,977
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 26%
Since 2001: down 6.1%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 22%
Since 2001: down 2.6%
Obesity
2006: 33%
Since 2001: up 10%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 32%
Since 2001: up 8.2%
The Aroostook region saw the greatest decrease in hospital visits for respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, falling more than 100% from 2001 to 2006. The reason is better outpatient management of such conditions, Jerry Whalen, vice president for business development at EMHS, reasons.
BANGOR
Total population, 2005: 126,579
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 22%
Since 2001: down 8.1%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 17%
Since 2001: down 6.4%
Obesity
2006: 24%
Since 2001: down 2.5%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 21%
Since 2001: up 0.7%
Bangor was the lone study area to see a decrease in obesity. Jerry Whalen of EMHS says the healthier profile is due to the Bangor Region Wellness Council. About 75 businesses in the area pay for the council's workplace wellness services.
HANCOCK (includes Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Bar Harbor)
Total population, 2005: 49,097
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 27%
Since 2001: up 1.9%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 17%
Since 2001: down 7.9%
Obesity
2006: 26%
Since 2001: up 8%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 22%
Since 2001: up 3.5%
Of all the study areas, Hancock has the greatest uninsured rates for residents age 65 or older. But the figure did fall from 23.9% in 2001 to 18.9% in 2006.
KNOX-WALDO (includes Rockland and Belfast)
Total population, 2005: 69,494
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 20%
Since 2001: down 0.8%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 19%
Since 2001: down 6.2%
Obesity
2006: 24%
Since 2001: up 3.2%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 26%
Since 2001: up 3.2%
The Knox-Waldo region was the only study area where the proportion of adults without a regular source of care was below state levels. While 12.3% of adults have no regular source of care statewide, the figure is 9.8% in Knox-Waldo.
PENQUIS (includes Dover-Foxcroft, Millinocket, Lincoln, Greenville)
Total population, 2005: 44,228
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 25%
Since 2001: down 1.2%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 24%
Since 2001: down 20%
Obesity
2006: 33%
Since 2001: up 4.8%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 29%
Since 2001: up 8.2%
Demand for health care is greatest in the Aroostook and Penquis regions, the study notes, because of the regions' high percentage of elderly residents. In the Penquis region, 18% of residents are 65 or older, compared to 14% statewide.
WASHINGTON (includes Calais and Machias)
Total population, 2005: 26,966
Risk factors among the population
Smoking
2006: 29%
Since 2001: up 1.9%
Sedentary lifestyle
2006: 28%
Since 2001: up 0.4%
Obesity
2006: 30%
Since 2001: up 2.1%
Three or more chronic conditions
2006: 25%
Since 2001: down 3.3%
The Washington region faces significant barriers to good health care, with 19% of its population living below the poverty level, the highest percentage of all study areas.
Kerry Elson, Mainebiz staff reporter, can be reached at kelson@mainebiz.biz.
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