County health profiles provide overview of region’s health status

County health profiles provide overview of region’s health status

WellFlorida Council has recently released health data for each county in North Central Florida and the collective region.

WellFlorida provides annual county health profiles to give residents and community leaders an overview of the health status of each county and how it compares to the state.

Categories including lifestyle, access to healthcare, and maternal and infant care are just a few examples of the type of data included in the profile.

County health profiles can be used as a starting point that may lead […]

October 7, 2015

Grant funding for DSME awarded

The following diabetes self-management education (DSME) applicants have been awarded funding to expand access to people with diabetes:

The Florida Department of Health in Putnam County

The Florida Department of Health in Bradford and Union Counties

The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County

LifeStream Behavioral Center, Inc.

Oasis Community Solutions, Inc.

The Florida Department of Health, Division of Community Health Promotion partnered with WellFlorida to distribute grant funding and provide technical assistance and expert mentoring services to DSME programs in North Central Florida.

For more information, please contact Lindsey Redding at

October 5, 2015

Industry experts gather to discuss Health Information Technology

Capital Soup
AHCA Communications

Conversation focuses on best practices and services offered through the Florida Health Information Exchange
St. Petersburg, Fla. – Today, more than 100 hospital executives, healthcare providers, and industry experts gathered to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the growing industry of health information technology, or Health IT. Hosted by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), topics discussed at the half-day symposium included current Health IT initiatives, the importance of privacy and security measures, and practical applications for information technology in the […]

September 29, 2015

Editorial: A health plan for Marion County

Ocala Star Banner

When consultants for WellFlorida recently assessed the health of Marion County, what they found was disturbing. By almost every measure — from obesity and smoking rates to access to nutritional food and life expectancy — our community ranked below, in some cases well below, the state average. In short, the overall health of Marion County residents is in critical condition.

Good news. Our community not only has a chance to deliver some immediate help and hope but also to change the entire […]

September 25, 2015

Hamilton County Health Department releases annual report

Suwannee Democrat
By Paula Thompson

Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County’s Mark Lander presented the department’s annual report for the 2014-15 year at a Sept. 15 county commission meeting.

The Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County provides services to residents and visitors of the community in a number of programs, according to the report. The department’s mission is to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts, it was noted.

During […]

September 24, 2015

The Veteran Initiated Electronic Care Coordination (VIECC) project

This blog is reposted from HealthIT Buzz. It was written by Leila Samy, Rural Health IT coordinator, ONC, and Gina Capra, director, Office of Rural Health, US Department of Veterans Affairs. http://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/rural-health/transforming-veterans-care-rural-practices/

Following the lead of the White House Rural Council, we in the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the VA are working with our public and private partners to ensure rural providers and the communities they serve have health IT tools to help them avoid scenarios like this one.

Nearly […]

September 16, 2015

This week is National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts.

According to a survey from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), parents are making five significant mistakes when using car and booster seats:

Wrong harness slot used – The harness straps used to hold the child in the car seat were positioned either too low or too high;
Harness chest clip […]

September 14, 2015

WellFlorida to provide Navigator services through USF partnership

The University of South Florida (USF) has been awarded more than $5.9 million in federal grants for its Navigator program statewide. Through a subcontract with USF, WellFlorida Council will continue to manage the Health Insurance Marketplace Navigator program in 15 counties in North Central Florida.

The Navigator program provides free and unbiased help in evaluating insurance options and enrolling in a plan through the Marketplace on Healthcare.gov. Navigators share tips on how to use healthcare coverage and help alleviate uncertainties when navigating the […]

September 14, 2015

Lauren Vagelakos: Families facing rate increase have another option

Special to the Gainesville Sun

Insurance rates for children enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids Full Pay insurance plan are going to almost double on Oct. 1. In response, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Obamacare, is extending its special enrollment period to allow families impacted by the rate increase to enroll in health insurance on Healthcare.gov.

The Florida Healthy Kids Health Insurance Program is a program that offers low-cost health insurance for children ages 5-18 who are not eligible for Medicaid. There is premium assistance […]

September 13, 2015