LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19, 2024 — Heluna Health today unveiled its Local Public Health Resources Index (LPHRI), a new tool for measuring and comparing local public health resources.

Initially focusing on the Western U.S., the LPHRI offers insights into local preparedness for health threats.

“Local health departments are at the forefront of public health response, often facing initial impacts of crises,” stated [Name], president and CEO of Heluna Health. “Effective response needs sufficient resources, which vary greatly. The LPHRI systematically assesses these differences to address community needs.”

The LPHRI assesses preparedness across four key areas: public health workforce; clinical lab and pharmacy workforce; public health spending; and wastewater surveillance.

Key LPHRI Findings

The 2024 index shows California local health departments had higher per capita public health spending, exceeding Arizona and Utah’s median per capita spending by more than 2.5 times, and Nevada’s by more than 1.5 times.

[Name], Heluna Health’s director of research and evaluation and index author, noted significant per capita spending variation within each state.

“This variation highlights the need for local-level data,” Ghosh explained.

Public health workforce staffing levels were generally higher in smaller jurisdictions and lower in larger ones, though state and staffing type influenced this. For example, California had the lowest epidemiology staffing but highest nurse staffing at the local level.

Wastewater surveillance adoption was inconsistent: While 49% of counties reported no testing in 2023, about 40% conducted testing for an average of 340 days.

“The LPHRI lets users explore indicators within these four areas, from epidemiology staffing to wastewater surveillance adoption,” Ghosh said. “This accessible data provides insights for planning, resource allocation, and emergency preparedness.”

Data-Driven Decision Making

Cutler said the LPHRI offers enhanced understanding of local public health readiness.

“This tool empowers communities by showing their resources compared to neighbors, highlighting gaps and collaboration opportunities,” she stated.

Local planners can use workforce data to identify jurisdictions with higher staffing for emergency assistance. Expenditure data illuminates investment patterns across county sizes and populations.

“The tool doesn’t set standards or predict, but provides a benchmark for aligning resources with community needs,” Cutler added.

Methodology and Data Transparency

Heluna Health’s Center for Outbreak Preparedness Insights created the LPHRI using publicly available data, expert advice, and scientific literature. The index reflects the latest data and, sometimes, historical comparisons. County-level data is available on a public dashboard, with technical notes explaining methodology and sources.

SOURCE Heluna Health