Week 39 Flu Deaths

Can you imagine that the District of Columbia Department of Health still maintains that there is only one confirmed case of the H1N1 swine flu virus and they have completely removed the number zero number of deaths? While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that: "The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and now exceeds what is normally expected at this time of year. In addition, 19 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week."

That the DC Department of Health (DCDOH) hasn't released a press release this month it shouldn't be surprising that the source for information in the city is less than current. It shouldn't surprise us that the nation's capital city is considered twenty-six (26) in the United States for health care when compared to the other fifty (50) jurisdictions.

Twenty-six (26) according to who: "The Commonwealth Fund (CF) is a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults."

Pneumonia/Flu Deaths	2009	2008	2007
District of Columbia	94	60	44
Baltimore, MD	585	618	507
Richmond / Norfolk, VA	179	167	175

Is it all bad news? No, there is still cause for hope - we asked the DC DOH for their plans but according to the same CF DC was: "Among the states that moved up the most in the overall performance rankings..." Should we celebrate? No DC still has one of the "highest mortality rates" and "(r)eadmission rates in 2006–07 ranged to highs of 21 to 23 percent in the worst-performing five states" which includes DC.

Need a procedure? Worried about the costs? You might consider number seventeen (17) - Maryland. "By 2008, only three states (Colorado, New Jersey, and Maryland) had premiums averaging under 14 percent of median income." Virginia might have the reputation as the better care system but independent evaluations finds more to praise Maryland for than the Old Dominion.

Virginia was ranked but see if you can discover any praises for our southern neighbor. We were unable to mine any praise other than its twenty-second (22) better than Washington rank. It's number two but according to the Commonwealth Fund number three (DC) tries harder.

Be informed. Stay informed.