The Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services holds a community discussion on Clallam County’s health from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Maier Hall, Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

 

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County co-sponsors the event.

 

Questions to be discussed include the current health of the community, which measures of health are improving or worsening and future priorities for improving community health.

 

Dr. Thomas Locke, Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties, discusses how community health measures evaluate the performance of the health care system.

 

Beth Lipton, CVM, MPH, CPH, epidemiologist for Kitsap Public Health District, presents updated Clallam County health indicators addressing a wide range of health issues.

 

Some Clallam County indicators to be discussed are:

• 19.3 percent of pregnant women report smoking, more than the state rate of 9.7 percent.

 

• Fertility rate per 1,000 women age 15-44 is 64.5. Clallam County’s rate is similar to state rate.

 

• The rate of opioid-related hospitalizations is 31.0 per 100,000 persons, significantly above the state rate of 21.8. The opiate-related death rate for 2008-2010 is 20.7 per 100,000 versus the state rate of 10.

 

For more information on the event, call Iva Burks, Clallam County Health and Human Services, at 417-2329 or e-mail iburks@co.clallam.wa.us.