Our Focus

 
DHC has chosen to focus on areas identified in the 2005 Epidemiology Report.
 
The Epidemiological Report, a report on the health concerns of Northwest Indiana and an assessment of community health in Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties, is a systematic, data-driven approach to determining the health status, behaviors and needs of residents in the region. The assessment provided the information needed to consider when developing effective interventions so that DHC could identify issues of greatest concern and decide to commit resources to those areas, thereby making the greatest possible impact on our community health status.
 
Learn more about our areas of concern:
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Tobacco Use

TobaccoTobacco Use
Tobacco use in Northwest Indiana is very high, as reflected in indicators measuring current smokers, households with a smoker, and children exposed to smoke in their home.
 
Lung Cancer
Compared to the national rate, the lung cancer death rate is higher in Northwest Indiana.
 
Respiratory Disease
Northwest Indiana has a higher prevalence of self-reported chronic lung disease compared to national benchmarks. Northwest Indiana death rates for chronic lower respiratory disease are also higher than national rates. Individually, chronic lower respiratory disease death rates are highest in Lake and LaPorte counties.

 
Tobacco Use NW IN US HP2010 Significance vs. U.S. Significance vs. HP2010
% Children Exposed to Smoke at Home 28.9 18.3 10 WORSE Does NOT Meet Goal
% Chronic Lung Disease 11.7 8.1   WORSE  
% Current Smoker 28.8 20.9 12 WORSE Does NOT Meet Goal
% Someone Smokes at Home 25.6 18.8   WORSE  
Age-Adjusted Heart Disease Deaths/100,000 257.3 240.8 213.7 WORSE Does NOT Meet Goal
Age-Adjusted Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 59.85 54.9 49.9 WORSE Does NOT Meet Goal
Age-Adjusted CLRD Deaths/100,000 44.1 43.5   WORSE  
% Smoke Cigars 5.6 4.3 2 similar Does NOT Meet Goal
% Smoke 2+ Packs/Day 6.3 8.3   similar  
% Have Quit 1+ Days in Past Yr 54 48.7 75 similar Does NOT Meet Goal
% Use Smokeless Tobacco 3.6 3.9 0.4 similar Does NOT Meet Goal
% Received Advice to Quit Smoking (Smokers) 60.9 60   similar  
% Child Has Asthma 13.1 15.9   similar  
% Asthma 10.2 10.3   simlar  

Address

P.O. Box 9327
Michigan City, IN 46361

Phone

telephone  219-874-4193
faxsimile  219-873-2416