By Rose Krzton-Presson
Murray, KY – Poor community health may put the Henry County Medical Center behind in its efforts to receive incentives from the Federal Health Care Reform act. The bill may provide communities with better health ratings monetary incentives. Henry County Medical Center Administrator Tom Gee says the community has a heart disease death rate that's about twice the Tennessee average and nearly four times the national average.
"We were discussing the need for our community to be more proactive in trying to improve its health status so that we would have a favorable reimbursement climate for the care that we provide."
Gee says that initiatives are being taken to improve community health including CPR training in schools and a new chest pain center in the hospital. This fall, mayors and community members will participate in a Healthy Challenge aimed to reduce weight and increase activity in Henry County.