PORTLAND, Maine - Maine has reached targets in some health indicators, but continues to lag in others. That's according to MaineHealth's fifth annual Health Index Report.
Deborah Deatrick, the organization's senior vice president of community health, says Maine hit goals in four areas: "That would include things like tobacco use, obesity, preventable hospitalizations, and cancer deaths."
But Deatrick says the state has not met targets for three other indicators: childhood immunizations, cardiovascular deaths, and prescription drug abuse and addiction. She says, overall, the report indicates that the state's health ranking is going down.
Deatrick says the report helps reveal the impact of current policies and clinical approaches on health, and clarifies the health issues to focus on the future.
