Priority health concerns are the fundamental health challenges facing the community which must be given priority in order for the overall health of the Knox County Community to improve. These strategic health concerns have significant consequences and impact the overall health and well-being of the community if they are not addressed.
In identifying the six significant health priorities, Healthy Communities Project Citizens Workgroup members reviewed collected data and reports, discussed all relevant issues, and then narrowed their focus to the ten most significant problem areas. After further assessment of the priority health concerns the Workgroup voted on which priorities to address within the Healthy Communities Project Strategic Plan by taking into account the following factors:
The size of the problem: How many persons, and what proportion of the population is affected by this problem?
Seriousness of the problem: Does this problem have a significant effect on people, their family, and the community? Is community intervention needed urgently? What is the potential impact if the problem is not dealt with now?
Current actions: Are actions already underway to resolve this issue or is greater initiative needed? Will the problem take care of itself without new actions? Are others already on the right track and devoting sufficient resources?
Intervention potential: Can anything be done for the problem? Do we know enough to plan what to do? Are known interventions effective? Is it realistic to believe that actions can be put in place? Will political, social, legal, or economic factors likely keep any action from happening.
PRIORITY HEALTH CONCERNS
Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease
Prevalence of Respiratory Disease
Prevalence of Poor Dental and Oral Health
Lack of Access to Primary and Preventative Health Care
Prevalence of Poor Mental Health
Prevalence of Substance Abuse
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