NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) announced today that for third consecutive year New Orleans’ ranking has improved in the County Health Rankings—a report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute that measures vital health factors that affect quality of life for nearly every county in the United States. New Orleans ranked 42nd out of 64 Louisiana parishes—up from 60th three years ago.
“I am pleased with the progress that our community has made in improving health citywide,” NOHD Director, Charlotte Parent, said. “Our department is working for the public’s health every day, and we expect to see continued growth in the County Health Rankings. Nonetheless, the County Health Rankings also show that there are a number of ongoing health concerns for New Orleans. We intend to use the County Health Rankings to inform our priorities going forward, particularly the Health Department’s emerging work in addressing the social determinants of health, which are based on issues around poverty, economic development and education.”
To outline the progress evidenced by the ranking, the New Orleans Health Department released its 2014 Annual Report, which details the department’s key achievements over the year and goals for 2015. Key achievements include becoming the first public health department in the state to receive national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board, opening the New Orleans East Hospital last July, launching a conflict resolution program in local schools and many more.
The NOHD also aims to improve engagement by connecting with New Orleans residents directly through the launch of new social media channels. The public is encouraged to like the New Orleans Health Department on Facebook and follow @nolahealthdept on Twitter to receive updates about NOHD programs, events, announcements and more.
As a community, New Orleans scores well in the County Health Rankings’ assessments of health behaviors and clinical care, reflecting improved awareness of the importance of health and wellbeing and robust access to community-based health services. Despite recent improvements, New Orleans’ scores are lower in the areas of social and economic factors and the physical environment, demonstrating the ways in which issues such as poverty and housing impact the health of the city’s residents.
In recognition of New Orleans’ progress toward a culture of health, New Orleans was an inaugural recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Roadmaps to Health Prize, now known as the Culture of Health Prize, in 2013. The award honors communities that have placed a priority on the heath of their residents. Since 2013, 12 communities have been honored with the Prize.
To read the NOHD Annual Report
