For Immediate Release: Monday, October 6, 2014

Contact: Stefany Strong, PIO, 386-274-0838

Healthy Volusia Report Highlights Access to Care in Volusia County

DAYTONA BEACH – The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has issued a report that takes a closer look at access to care in Volusia County.

“Having access to a primary source of health care is crucial to ensuring that residents of Volusia County can maintain their health,” said Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen director of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County. “It is the most efficient way for individuals to prevent an illness, minimize the effects of an illness or treat an illness.”

The Healthy Volusia Access to Care report examines how individuals are impacted by access to health care on the county, state, and national level. For example, as of 2012, the percent of folks with access to health care was 82 percent in Volusia County, 83 percent in the state of Florida, and 83 percent in the U.S. The Healthy People 2020 goal is to increase access to 100 percent by the year 2020.

The availability of health care to all citizens is essential to the overall wellbeing of the community. Without it, residents are more susceptible to poor health outcomes, a lower quality of life and higher mortality rates. The health of Volusia County residents improves when the healthy choice is the easy choice.

Report highlights include:

• Volusia County is not considered a dental shortage area, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration; however, two cities (Holly Hill and Deltona) exceed the recommended population to dentist ratios.

• Health Quadrants 1 and 2 had the highest age-adjusted rates for hospitalizations due to the top six Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among people under age 65. Health Quadrants 1 and 2 also have the largest percentage of residents in poverty.

• Health Quadrant 1 has the fewest physicians in Volusia County, and also the fewest number of health care facilities. Only 37 physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants have licenses to practice in Health Quadrant 1 which serves roughly 80,000 people.

• The number of Newborn Abstinence Syndrome cases in Volusia County has dramatically increased from 2008 (18 babies) to 2011 (61 babies), a four-fold surge. Similarly, Florida Newborn Abstinence Syndrome births more than doubled from 2008 (691) to 2011 (1,563).

To view the quarterly Healthy Volusia Reports, please visit www.volusiahealth.com.