Public Health Institute Conducts Major Health Survey in Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill Counties

Findings Will Shape Future Health Programs and Initiatives for Local Residents

PHILADELPHIA (March 8, 2011)— Knowledge is power and over the next few months, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), through its Community Health Data Base (CHDB), will conduct a Household Health Survey in Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill counties to gain insight into the health care experiences of area residents. Approximately 3,000 households throughout these counties will be randomly contacted by telephone and asked questions about health screenings, use of health services, health insurance and personal health behaviors.

All of the information collected is confidential and will be used to plan and improve health services for area residents. Hospitals, government agencies, universities, managed care organizations and others will use information from the survey to assess community health needs, address community health concerns, and plan, implement and evaluate community health initiatives. “I encourage everyone who receives a survey call to participate,” says Francine Axler, CHDB project director. “By doing so, they add to the knowledge base that empowers your local community to develop responsive health services.”

CHDB conducted the first Household Health Survey in Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill counties in 2008. The results of this year’s survey will be used to measure the region’s progress in the areas of obesity, tobacco use, access to care and more. The 2008 Household Health Survey found:

• 26.7% of adults in Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill counties are considered obese based on their BMI (286,200) and 36.2% are considered overweight (211,300).

• 21% of Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill county adults smoke every day or some days (169,000 adults).

• 12.6% of Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill adults had no regular source of care, representing approximately 101,300 adults across the three counties.

• 8.5% of adults had no public or private source of health insurance, representing about 54,900 uninsured adults.

The CHDB Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey is one of the largest regional health surveys in the country. CHDB is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Foundation, CIGNA Foundation, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, United Way of North Penn, North Penn Community Health Foundation, the Scattergood Foundation and over 400 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors. For more information, please visit www.chdbdata.org.

For more information on the Household Health Survey or PHMC’s Community Health Data Base, contact Francine Axler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 215.985.2521.