Troubling rates of lung cancer deaths, diabetes and suicide need to be tackled if the Tampa Bay region's economic health is to improve, according to a regional assessment released today.
The Tampa Bay Partnership's "One Bay: Healthy Communities" report, a community health assessment of the eight counties the economic development group serves, identifies several areas where the region falls behind the rest of the nation. For example, nationwide, 5.7 percent of adults have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, compared to 8 percent in the Tampa Bay area. Lung cancer deaths and suicide rates are also higher here.
Such factors can affect the region's ability to attract and keep employers, said Denise Remus, chief quality officer for BayCare Health System, who compiled the data for the report.
Feedback compiled in town meetings in the next six to nine months will help the Tampa Bay Partnership identify specific areas for improvement in the region it serves, which stretches from Citrus to Sarasota and includes Polk County. The group's chairman is John Schueler, president of the Florida Communications Group, which includes The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and WFLA-TV.
The information used in the report comes from familiar sources such as the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Much of the information is several years old and is reported in other community health reports.
The Partnership also conducted an online survey of about 150 local employers. Most, if not all, are concerned about keeping employees healthy.
"It's not just about health at home," said Lynda Leedy, the One Bay Health Communities project manager. "But it's also about having health as part of the culture in the workplace."
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