Critical Challenges Face Spartanburg County Health

There are some critical health issues that need to be addressed especially in these uncertain economic times.
A new report released about health in Spartanburg County shows where the county has improved in the past 5 years and where they still need work.

57 year old Terry Miller says he's a man of faith, but that faith was questioned recently when he was laid off with no insurance and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. His only option for help was St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic.

He says, "It is a blessing. Yes it is a life saver."

Access to healthcare is one of the problems highlighted in the community indicators report that Spartanburg County needs to work on. Nearly fifteen percent of Spartanburg County residents have needed to see a doctor in the past year but couldn't because of cost.

Kathy Dunleavy with the United Way of the Piedmont says, "We hope individuals, organizations, churches, schools whomever sees this and says I know I can do my part."

Dunleavy says they are desperate for help. She other areas that need improving are dental health. The report shows there's no identifiable place adults can go to get low cost dental care and Spartanburg County residents have lost more teeth to tooth decay than any other counties like it.

According to Dunleavy, "I think the problem is economics in so many ways. Our citizens many of them don't have the funds to access the dentist and there is very limited free services out there."

However, with the Healthy Smiles organization they have made strides in getting children dental care. Dunleavy says one topic they are working hard on now is teen pregnancy.

She says, "It touches this low birth weight baby. It touches the prenatal care it touches so many of the issues that are in this particular report."

As for Terry and the many others like him out there, they're hoping these indicators make an impact and the community will rise above the economic tough times to make sure everyone here has a chance to live a healthy life.
Other challenges the study identified are diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as well as cost of healthcare.
However, areas where Spartanburg County faired better than others were immunization of children and decreasing rates of HIV and AIDS. For more information click here.