¶ … morbidity and mortality data in your state to facilitate planning for your community? Morbidity and mortality data enables health professionals to target which preventable health diseases are particularly acute within a given community, and design preventative strategies. "Morbidity is an incidence of ill health. It is measured in various ways, often by the probability that a randomly selected individual in a population at some date and location would become seriously ill in some period of time" (Morbidity, 2012, Econterms). This is in contrast to mortality, which is defined as "incidence of death in a population. It is measured in various ways, often by the probability that a randomly selected individual in a population at some date and location would die in some period of time" (Mortality, 2012, Econterms).

If there is a high morbidity rate regarding lifestyle-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancers, public health officials can create laws construct educational campaigns to support reducing caloric intake and increasing energy expenditures. For example, in New York City, laws have recently been passed limiting public smoking (to reduce the spread of lung cancer) and the size of sugary soft drinks (to combat obesity). Understanding the causation of morbidity and mortality is essential because the prescriptions to improve health will vary. Many years ago, under-nutrition was thought to be a prime source of ill health. Now, the poor are disproportionately affected by diabetes.

Merely having a high mortality rate does not necessarily mean that a community is unhealthy. The community...

But a high morbidity and mortality rate is alarming, particularly if the morbidity rate is due to preventable illnesses and there is a high rate of deaths amongst young people.
2. Three important health problems

In Texas, there is a profound discrepancy between the quality of care in rural areas and urban areas. "Fifty-eight rural counties do not have a large enough population or adequately concentrated population to allow the establishment of a single hospital. Twenty-three rural counties have no direct physicians and 35 are without participating Medicaid physicians" (DeSoto, Tajalli, & Hofer 2001). Texas must address these inequities of care and provide additional financial incentives for physicians to practice in underserved areas.

The need for consistent, preventative care in Texas is underlined by Texas' high obesity rate. "Last year, Texas ranked 10th in the nation in the percent of the population who are obese -- one of 12 states with a rate exceeding 30%" (Landers 2012). Obesity rates in America as a whole are escalating, but Texas is suffering in a particularly acute manner. "Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs estimates obesity costs Texas companies $9.5 billion a year in health insurance premiums, absenteeism and lost productivity" (Landers 2012). On a personal level, obesity has devastating consequences for families and individuals; on a state level it is a financial drain. Texas must consider legislation to promote positive lifestyle changes, such as including calorie counts on menus, as well as expanding access to areas where people can engage…