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Public Health: Goals & Measures
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Indicator Measures
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How are we doing?
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7.1.1 Research funding for health care
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Massachusetts has consistently led other Leading Technology States in its capture of federal research and development funding and per capita deferral health research, which doubled between 1997 and 2002. In 2002, medical research institutions in Boston received $1,048 million in National Institutes of Health awards, a 3% increase over 2000, and institutions in Cambridge received a 55% increase. However, competition in life sciences research and development is increasing, and a number of states are aggressively pursuing a greater share of public research dollars by investing state funds in public university and other research. Venture capital investment overseas is increasing. |
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7.1.2 ‘Right Start’ rank in child health outcomes
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In 2002, the latest year for data, Boston ranked in the top 15 cities on six of eight measures of healthy births. Rates on most measures have improved markedly between 1990 and 2000, but changed little since then. However, Boston ranked 34th in the percentage of women giving birth to low-birthweight babies and 19th in the percentage of women with pre-term births – risk factors for learning disabilities and other developmental problems. Both rates reflected sharp and persistent racial disparities. |
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7.2.1 Percentage of residents without health insurance by gender and by race
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In 2004, an estimated 7.8% of the Metro Boston population and 7.4% of the MA population lacked health insurance entirely, and many more had inadequate coverage – representing an increase from 5.6% in Metro Boston and 5.9% in Massachusetts since 2000. Young adults age 19 – 24 and low-income households were the least likely to have health insurance, with 20% and 15% lacking coverage respectively. All children in MA are eligible for health insurance, but limitations on coverage have increased. These rates are better than the US as a whole, at 14%. The US is the only industrialized nation that does not offer universal health care coverage to its citizens. |
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7.2.2 Mental health services capacity for children and adolescents
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In 2002, the latest year for which data are available, wait times for placement in an outpatient mental health service had increased by more than 200% since 1998 for children and adolescents in pediatric hospitals, and 68% of facilities reported needing additional staff to meet demand. |
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7.2.3 Language interpreters at major hospitals and health centers
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Boston’s major hospitals and most community centers ease language barriers by employing staff with appropriate skills, but these services do not always meet the demand. Languages spoken in Boston’s network of community health centers reflect the nee
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