Tobacco Nation: Michigan Is One Of Top States For Smoking
Some states smoke more than others. Smoking habits can vary significantly across different regions in the United States, with certain states standing out for their higher cigarette consumption. Recently, Truth Initiative shared an analysis of U.S. states with the highest smoking prevalence. The study was conducted to shed light on the unique challenges faced by certain communities. Truth Initiative is (per their website) America’s largest nonprofit public health organization committed to making tobacco use and nicotine addiction a thing of the past.
Michigan is part of the “Tobacco Nation”
According to their most recent findings, the prevalence of smoking is almost 50% greater in a group of Midwestern and Southern states than the rest of the country. They referred to this group as of 12 states as the “Tobacco Nation.” The states that makeup Tobacco Nation include Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia. These states, including Michigan, have a smoking prevalence that is 50% higher than the rest of the United States.
What’s surprising is the per capita cigarette consumption in these regions compared to the rest of the country. People in these states are more inclined to smoke approximately 53 packs of cigarettes annually, whereas the average for the rest of the states is only around 29 packs per year. According to the study, this translates to approximately 500 more cigarettes per year, per person, compared to any state outside of Tobacco Nation.
Adult smoking rates are expected to climb in Tobacco Nation.
Also, as revealed in the study, over the next 20 years, adult smoking rates in Tobacco Nation states are expected to be 40% higher on average compared to the rest of the country.
Although smoking prevalence has declined across the U.S. since their 2019 report, residents of all ages in Tobacco Nation are still more likely to smoke than residents living in the rest of the U.S. With a population of over 67 million residents, these states account for approximately 21% of the total U.S. population. However, what’s concerning is that they make up over 28% of all adult current smokers in the country. Despite having a significant proportion of the population, these states contribute to the overall number of smokers in the United States.
There’s a strong correlation between regions with high tobacco usage and the prevalence of tobacco-related health issues. Smoking increases the chances of developing lung and bronchus cancer and elevates the risk of heart disease. Recent studies indicate a decline in life expectancy nationwide and a rise in mortality rates from conditions such as heart disease and cancer. However, people residing in Tobacco Nation, where the consumption of cigarettes is more frequent, face a greater likelihood of having cancer, heart disease, and chronic lower respiratory disease compared to their counterparts in other parts of the United States, according to Truth Initiative.
If you want to dig into the details of the analysis by the public health organization, check it out here.
Hospital Safety Grades Are Out, How Michigan Hospitals Scored
When it comes to finding the best hospital care for yourself and your family, it might be difficult to choose the one that you prefer. They all vary on things such as infection rates, surgical errors, patient injuries, ER wait times, patient satisfaction, and others. Are you getting ready to have a baby? Do you or a relative need surgery? Whether you’re planning your next visit to the hospital or want an established hospital to go to “just in case,” you may want to consider going to a hospital with the best care.
Making transparency the norm in health care
The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for healthcare consumers and purchasers, issued their Hospital Safety Grades. They publicly report critical safety and quality information that can help you find the best care for you and your family. For over 20 years they “collected, analyzed, and published hospital data on safety and quality in order to push the health care industry forward.”
Each hospital was ranked in the nation as either A, B, C, D or F. The Hospital Safety Grade uses more than 30 national performance measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, and information from other supplemental data sources. Together, those performance measures produce a single letter grade representing a hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. As far as the methodology, it has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Patient Safety.
The top ten states with the highest percentages of “A” hospitals.
In the report, the top ten states with the highest percentages of “A” hospitals are New Jersey, Idaho, Utah, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Meanwhile, there were no “A” hospitals in Delaware, the District of Columbia, or North Dakota. Overall, twenty-nine percent of hospitals received an “A,” 26 percent received a “B,” 39 percent received a “C,” 6 percent received a “D,” and less than 1 percent received an “F.”
Never refuse care in an emergency because of the hospital’s grade.
However, the nonprofit said never to refuse care in an emergency because of the hospital’s grade. People are encouraged to use the information as a guide for planned events and a research tool for potential emergencies.
As far as Michigan, our state has 26.8 percent grade A hospitals for Spring 2023 and ranks 24 in the nation. This is lower than Fall 2022’s 33.5 percent grade A hospitals and number 19 ranking.
Over 80 Michigan hospitals received Hospital Safety Grades. Take a look at Michigan’s and other states’ Hospital Safety Grades here.
Here are some ways to choose the right hospital.
Choose an accredited hospital.
Use hospitals that have received accreditation from an agency approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Choose a hospital with expertise and experience in your condition.
Hospitals often specialize in particular areas. So, asking how many patients with your health condition are treated at a particular hospital each year can help you decide on a hospital.
Research hospital performance.
Research hospital performance on quality, safety, outcomes, and other criteria. Having information on outcomes, complication rates, infections and even death rates for specific medical conditions and procedures at hospitals in your area can help you choose a hospital.
Look into Hospital Safety Grades.
Leapfrog assigns letter grades (A through F) for hospitals based on their ability to protect patients from preventable errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Search for hospitals by geographic area, or name, to see quality data for information on medication safety, infections and injuries, inpatient care management, and more.
Find information on Medicare penalties.
You can use a website created by Kaiser Health News to look up hospitals by name or location to find out if Medicare imposed penalties for either readmissions or hospital-acquired conditions such as infections and patient injuries.
Medicare’s Care Compare.
Medicare’s Care Compare website shows their star ratings for hospitals nationwide based on performance. You can also find patient survey scores for each hospital. These scores come from patients who completed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. The surveys include communication with doctors and nurses, hospital staff responsiveness, hospital cleanliness, and others.
Look into hospitals that take your insurance coverage.
To avoid unexpected bills, check with your insurance carrier to determine your coverage at any hospital you consider. Also, don’t forget to ask if you need pre-approval, or if there are any exclusions to your coverage.
