Name
Western Governors University
D029 Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
Prof. Name
Date
Highlands County, Florida, covers a vast area of 1,106 square miles, ranking it among the largest counties in the state. According to the 2020 census, the county is home to over 104,000 residents. Despite its size and population, Highlands County’s health outcomes are concerning, falling behind Florida’s state averages and national benchmarks. This paper examines the county’s sociodemographic profile, health outcomes, and health factors to identify key areas requiring intervention to improve community health.
The demographic composition of Highlands County differs notably from the broader United States. Key characteristics are summarized in the following table:
| Population Characteristic | Highlands County (%) | United States (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Population Estimate | 105,649 | 333,271,411 |
| Population Growth Rate | 6.3 | 1.0 |
| Persons Under Age 18 | 16.6 | 27.1 |
| Persons 65 Years and Over | 36.2 | 17.3 |
| Female Population | 51.1 | 50.4 |
| White Alone | 84.7 | 75.5 |
| Black or African American Alone | 10.8 | 13.6 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native Alone | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Asian Alone | 1.6 | 6.3 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders Alone | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Two or More Races | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22.6 | 19.1 |
| White Alone, Not Hispanic or Latino | 64.3 | 58.9 |
| Language Other Than English Spoken at Home (Age 5+) | 20.4 | 21.7 |
| Households with a Computer | 91.3 | 94.0 |
| High School Graduate or Higher | 86.2 | 89.1 |
| Disability Under Age 65 | 12.8 | 8.9 |
| Without Health Insurance Under Age 65 | 19.1 | 9.3 |
| Civilian Labor Force Participation (Age 16+) | 43.5 | 63.0 |
| Females in Civilian Labor Force (Age 16+) | 40.1 | 58.5 |
| Per Capita Income (Past 12 Months) | $12,147 | $15,224 |
| Persons in Poverty | 15.6 | 11.5 |
| Population Density (per square mile) | 99.5 | 93.8 |
Note: Data Source – United States Census Bureau (n.d.).
The population structure in Highlands County reveals a notably older demographic, with over 36% of residents aged 65 or older, more than double the national proportion. This demographic trend reflects the county’s popularity as a retirement destination. Meanwhile, the youth population under 18 years old is significantly smaller than the national average, which may affect future workforce development and service planning.
Racially, the county exhibits less diversity, with a predominance of White residents and a slightly higher Hispanic or Latino population relative to national figures. Economic indicators highlight several challenges, including lower per capita income, increased poverty levels, and a much higher percentage of residents without health insurance. Labor force participation rates are considerably below national averages, especially among women. Additionally, a greater proportion of residents under 65 report disabilities, indicating both healthcare needs and potential socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
Between 2008 and 2022, Highlands County has shown mixed progress in health outcomes:
Uninsured Rate: The uninsured rate improved, declining from about 30% in 2008 to nearly 19% in 2021. However, this rate still exceeds Florida’s and the national averages.
Primary Care Physician Availability: The ratio of population to primary care physicians has remained stable but may be inadequate for demand.
Dentist Availability: There has been improvement, with the population-to-dentist ratio improving from roughly 3,500:1 in 2010 to 2,500:1 in 2022, indicating better access to dental care.
Preventable Hospital Stays: These have significantly decreased, dropping from nearly 6,000 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to under 3,000 in 2021, reflecting better chronic disease management and primary care access.
Mammography Screening: Alarming decreases were observed, with screening rates falling from 45% in 2012 to under 30% in 2021, raising concerns about early cancer detection.
Flu Vaccination Rates: These rates have remained steady without significant changes.
Unemployment Rate: The county’s unemployment fluctuated in line with broader trends but lacks a consistent pattern.
This combination of trends points to progress in some healthcare services, such as dental care and hospitalizations that could be avoided, but significant concerns remain about cancer screening uptake.
Key health-related indicators for Highlands County, Florida, and the United States are summarized below:
| Health Factor | Highlands County (%) | Florida (%) | United States (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking | 21 | 16 | 15 |
| Access to Exercise Opportunities | 70 | 87 | 84 |
| Excessive Drinking | 18 | 17 | 18 |
| Primary Care Physicians (Population:1 Physician) | 1720:1 | 1370:1 | 1330:1 |
| High School Completion | 84 | 90 | 86 |
| Some College Education | 50 | 65 | 68 |
| Unemployment | 4.2 | 2.9 | 3.7 |
| Children in Single-Parent Households | 26 | 28 | 25 |
| Social Associations (per 10,000) | 11.9 | 7.1 | 9.1 |
| Children in Poverty | 24 | 17 | 16 |
| Injury Deaths (per 100,000) | 120 | 91 | 80 |
| Children Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch | 66 | 54 | 51 |
| Air Pollution (PM2.5 µg/m³) | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.4 |
| Severe Housing Problems | 12 | 19 | 17 |
Note: Data Source – County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (n.d.).
The data reveals several public health challenges in Highlands County. The smoking rate is notably higher than both state and national averages, which poses significant health risks. Injury-related deaths are also elevated, indicating a critical area for prevention efforts.
However, the county shows strengths in social capital, with a higher density of social associations compared to both Florida and the U.S., suggesting strong community networks and potential for community-led health initiatives.
Economic difficulties are prominent, with higher child poverty rates, elevated unemployment, and substantial food insecurity, as evidenced by the high percentage of children eligible for subsidized school meals. Despite these hardships, housing problems are less severe than those in Florida and nationally, indicating relatively better housing stability.
This complex interplay of factors highlights the need for comprehensive strategies addressing social determinants, healthcare access, and preventive care in Highlands County.
Comparing local health data with state and national statistics is essential to place community health in proper context. This benchmarking process uncovers health disparities and service gaps that may otherwise go unnoticed. For example, the relatively high uninsured rate in Highlands County signals systemic barriers to healthcare access, which might be underestimated without comparison (Borgschulte & Vogler, 2020). Without these contextual insights, efforts to allocate resources and develop targeted interventions may lack effectiveness. Therefore, aligning county data with wider trends facilitates informed public health decision-making and optimized resource distribution.
One of the most pressing issues is the dramatic decline in mammography screening rates, which fell from 45% in 2012 to less than 30% in 2021. To address this, implementing a Mobile Mammography Initiative is proposed. This program would deliver breast cancer screening services directly to underserved and rural populations, helping to overcome geographic and transportation barriers (Spak et al., 2020).
Mobile mammography units can improve accessibility, raise community awareness about breast cancer prevention, and reduce the inconvenience of scheduling and travel by providing services at convenient locations such as workplaces and residential neighborhoods.
APNs are integral to the initiative’s planning and execution. Their roles would include:
Coordinating the scheduling and deployment of mobile mammography units throughout the county.
Leading community outreach and education efforts to inform residents about the importance of screening.
Collaborating with healthcare providers and stakeholders to obtain funding and resources.
Monitoring program outcomes and evaluating progress toward Healthy People 2030 breast cancer screening goals (Trivedi et al., 2022).
The program’s foundation requires several strategic actions:
Conducting a comprehensive community needs assessment to identify demographic trends, current screening gaps, and barriers.
Forming an interprofessional team including healthcare providers, community leaders, and local officials to clarify roles for outreach, screening, and evaluation.
Securing funding through grants and partnerships with community organizations.
Establishing robust systems for data collection and ongoing analysis to measure the program’s impact over time (Tsapatsaris & Reichman, 2021).
Effective use of digital media and technology is vital. APNs can:
Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to disseminate information, engage community influencers, and run targeted awareness campaigns.
Develop user-friendly mobile applications to facilitate appointment scheduling, provide real-time updates, and offer educational content tailored for rural and marginalized populations (Al-dmour et al., 2020).
Program evaluation should focus on key metrics like increased mammography screening rates, expanded reach of services, and improved community awareness. Data should be collected through electronic health records, surveys, and feedback from staff and participants. Visualization tools, such as Tableau, can be employed to identify trends, disparities, and areas for program improvement (Huguet et al., 2020; Kim & Huang, 2021).
Al-dmour, H., Masa’deh, R., Salman, A., Abuhashesh, M., & Al-Dmour, R. (2020). Influence of social media platforms on public health protection against the COVID-19 pandemic via the mediating effects of public health awareness and behavioral changes: Integrated model. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22. https://doi.org/10.2196/19996
Borgschulte, M., & Vogler, J. (2020). Did the ACA Medicaid expansion save lives? Health Economics eJournal. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHEALECO.2020.102333
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (n.d.). Highlands, Florida. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data/florida/highlands?year=2024
Huguet, N., Kaufmann, J., O’Malley, J., Angier, H., Hoopes, M., DeVoe, J., & Marino, M. (2020). Using electronic health records in longitudinal studies: Estimating patient attrition. Medical Care, 58(3), 231–238. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001298
Kim, E., & Huang, C. (2021). Visual analytics in effects of gross domestic product to human immunodeficiency virus using tableau. International Journal of Machine Learning and Computing, 11(3), 219-223. https://doi.org/10.18178/IJMLC.2021.11.3.1038
Spak, D., Foxhall, L., Rieber, A., Hess, K., Helvie, M., & Whitman, G. (2020). Retrospective review of a mobile mammography screening program in an underserved population within a large metropolitan area. Academic Radiology, 27(11), 1575–1583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2020.07.012
Trivedi, U., Omofoye, T., Marquez, C., Sullivan, C., Benson, D., & Whitman, G. (2022). Mobile mammography services and underserved women. Diagnostics, 12(4), 902. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040902
Tsapatsaris, A., & Reichman, M. (2021). Project ScanVan: Mobile mammography services to decrease socioeconomic barriers and racial disparities among medically underserved women in NYC. Clinical Imaging, 78, 60-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinimag.2021.02.040
United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Quick Facts Highlands County, Florida; United States. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/highlandscountyflorida,US/
