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September 11, 2012

State survey finds Grady good economically, poor in health

James Bright The Express-Star

GRADY COUNTY — A report detailing the socioeconomic state of every county in Oklahoma was released this week by the Oklahoma Policy Institute and has Grady County ranked high in education, median income and employment.

With median personal income of $45,260, Grady County ranks 14 out of the 77 counties in Oklahoma.

Despite this, both Cleveland and McClain counties rank higher on the lists with MPIs of  $52,688 and $53,708 respectively. The United States MPI sits at $40,584 according to the 2010 survey.

The work force in Grady County is dominated by manufacturing with 15 percent of employed citizens working in this sector. Healthcare, retail and education comprise a combined 40 percent of the workforce here, but command the most presence in surrounding counties.

Over 20 percent of citizens in Grady County have earned a Bachelor's degree or higher, a number that more than shadows surround counties, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Caddo and McClain.

A low student-to-teacher ratio - 15.5 to 1 - ranks 13 on the list, adding to Grady County's success in education.

Following a trend seen by most of the United States and Oklahoma, Grady County has seen significant improvements in the unemployment rate. A steady decrease since 2008 has the county sitting a little below 6 percent in the unemployment rate, which is similar to other counties in the area with the exception of Caddo.

The study did not show Grady County sharing the seem prosperity in the area of healthcare. With 37.5 percent Grady is number one in the state when it comes to obesity rate.

Owner of Ross Home Health Care and Chickasha Mayor Hank Ross said the county's long standing history contributes to this factor.

"People here are challenged economically," he said. "We need to educate them on healthy lifestyle choices."

Uninsured adult rates in Grady County are positive though, with only 19.9 percent uninsured, a statistic beaten only by eight other counties in the state.

Ross said he thinks this statistic has also has a lot to do with the impoverished rate of the county.

"I'd imagine we have a large number of our population that receive Medicaid," he said.

Despite this, the overall health outcome rank for Grady is 27, which is better than Caddo County and Oklahoma County.

Public Information Officer for Grady Memorial Hospital John Krump said although Grady County is in the upper third of Oklahoma there is still plenty of work to be done.

"Oklahoma ranks among the 12 lowest sates in the health of its citizens," Krump said. "The most significant contributing factors include the rate of obesity, smoking and drug use.

Krump said by 2018 Oklahoma is expected to have the highest obesity rate and highest obesity-attributable health care expenditures in the country.

"As a county and as a state we need new dynamic community-based public health interventions aimed at improving physical activity, nutrition and preventing tobacco use," Krump said.

McClain finished first in overall health outcome.

 

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