LAS VEGAS -- Nevada once again finds itself near the bottom of another nationwide list. This time, United Health Foundation says Nevada ranks 47th when it comes to health. That's down two places from last year.
The new comprehensive report calls out diabetes as one major increasing health risk. In Nevada, low high school graduation rates, a high violent crime rate, low public health funding and limited prenatal care were among the major weaknesses.
Nevada's medical schools have also not caught up with the population boom that hit the Silver State in the 1980's and 1990's.
"We have a shortage of physicians and health care providers. In our medical school, it only has 230 kids in a class, in school. That's 60 kids a year," said Chief Operating Officer Brian Branman, University Medical Center.
Branman adds that most physicians stay in the community where they get their specialized training. But in Nevada, there aren't many training programs for neurology, gastroenterology or cardiology. UMC says that leads to a drain of medical talent from the state. Nevada's low $39 per person spending on public health also adds to the low ranking.
The report brought some other numbers to light: Obesity is more prevalent among Hispanics at 28.4 percent compared to 24.8 for whites. But Hispanic diabetes levels are lower at 5.9 percent compared to 8.3 percent for whites.
"The real worry is the children. We're seeing a vast increase in Type 2 diabetes, the adult onset type in the younger kids, particularly teenagers," said Dr. Fred Toffel, Diabetes Treatment Center.
Not only are children not exercising enough, but there aren't enough endocrinologists to treat those with diabetes in Nevada. Dr. Toffel says many of his patients can't afford diabetes medication anymore.
Both doctors said Nevada's political leaders need to think twice before further cutting spending on health care during this budget crisis.
Nevada did score well in a few areas including the low level of air pollution and the low rate of preventable hospitalizations.
The rankings had Vermont in the top spot as healthiest state and Mississippi at the bottom of the list. Nevada's highest ranking was 39th place in 2004.
