Oral

This session will focus on the epidemiologic methods used in the annual County Health Rankings. From 2003-2008, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute produced annual rankings of the overall health of all 72 counties in Wisconsin. Beginning in 2010, and with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Institute produces the annual "County Health Rankings" for the over 3,000 counties in each of the 50 states. The Rankings are a compilation of data on health outcomes and health factors known to affect health: 1) Health outcomes including measures of premature mortality and health-related quality of life (e.g., self-reported health status). 2) Health determinants including measures of health behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol use and obesity; clinical care access and quality; social and economic factors, including measures of education, employment and poverty; and environmental factors, such as measures of air quality and the built environment. This presentation will describe the rationale for health ranking; selection of measures; sources of data; methods used to combine measures; approaches to account for small area estimates; and approaches for communicating results to policy makers and the public. This session will provide an important opportunity for a dialogue between the producers and potential users of the County Health Rankings.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe the County Health Rankings health outcomes and determinants model 2. Explain the metrics and methods used to calculate the County Health Rankings 3. Discuss how to communicate the results of the County Health Rankings to diverse audiences