4.13 Prevention

This page includes data that provide multiple perspectives on prevention in health care. The first data set, from the St. Norbert College Strategic Research Institute includes the percentage of adults reporting in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey that they had their blood pressure and cholesterol checked by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional in the past year. High blood pressure, or hypertension, and high blood cholesterol are both major risk factors for heart disease. The BRFSS is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The second data set is from two local community health clinics that provide affordable dental care to people without dental insurance and includes the number of dentist visits and dental patients at these clinics. The third data set, from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, includes the number of preventable hospitalizations for children under age 18. Preventable hospitalizations are for those conditions where timely and effective ambulatory care can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization.