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As of last month, Tennessee counties have a new "knowledge is power" tool to use in assessing and ultimately improving the health of their citizens. The newly formed Tennessee Institute of Public Health released the state's first County Health Rankings: 2006 Index in early December.

Of the 95 counties, Williamson (county seat Franklin) ranked first, making it the healthiest county in Tennessee. Of note, it is also the wealthiest county in the state and one of the 15 wealthiest counties in the nation.

On the other end of the spectrum, Lake County (county seat Tiptonville) in the northwestern corner of Tennessee ranked last.

Of the four major urban areas, Davidson County (Nashville) ranked 29th; Hamilton County (Chattanooga) ranked 56th; Knox County (Knoxville) ranked 6th; and Shelby County (Memphis) ranked 77th.

TNIPH interim executive director Jo Edwards, EdD, said that in creating the rankings, the Institute looked at 35 parameters divided into two major areas — health outcomes and health determinants. Outcomes show the overall health status of a county, while determinants are viewed as predictors of the population's future health.

For more detailed information on the 2006 Index, visit www.state.tn.us/tniph.




January 2007

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