Healthcare Case Study Schuylkill County, PA
County Overview - Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania is located in the heart of the anthracite Coal region of Pennsylvania where the Schuylkill River originates. Pottsville is the county seat, and the county showed a population of just under 150,000 as of 2010 with a density of 190 persons per square mile. The total area of the county is 782 square miles, almost all land, less than 1/2 a per cent water. The county's history, likely due to large coal deposits, focused on the railroad and industrialization (Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, 2011).
The county experienced the high point of its population during the 1920s and 1930s, and has been losing people ever since, most between 1950 and 1970, with about a 1-2% population loss since the turn of the century. This is likely due to the lack of appropriate jobs and opportunities within the county. Schuylkill County is one of the most heavily Lithuanian parts of the United States, but also had a number of Austrian, German and Polish immigrants during the early part of the 20th century, brought to the area with mining opportunities. Politically, Republicans have a slight edge (48% to 43%) (Election Statistics, 2010). Pottsville is the only city in the county, with 30 boroughs, and 36 townships. Partially due to the continual decline in population, the county has partnered with VISION, a non-profit organization that is based in Pottsville and dedicated to improving the quality of life in the county by partnering with other organizations that focus on modern concerns and community development -- typically in more of a strategic partnership paradigm (VISION - Strategic Plan, 2011)
Figure 1 -- Basic Demographic Overview of Schuylkill County, PA (U.S. average data listed for comparison only):
Component
Schuylkill County
U.S. Average
Household Size
2.29
2.60
Average Family Size
2.81
3.19
In labor force (over 16)
57.4
65
Median HH income
41,315
51,425
Per Capita Income (2009 adj.)
21,309
27,041
Individuals below poverty level
12%
13.5%
Median Age
42.6
36.5
Caucasian
95.3%
74.5%
Non-Caucasian
4.7%
25.5%
Owner Occupied Homes
77%
67%
Seniors 65 years and older
18.4%
12.5%
Figure 2 -- Demographic Statistics -- The County is not very diverse in terms of ethnicity, it is almost entirely Caucasian. This is quite different than the U.S. national average, and is also different than most of the major urban areas on the Eastern Seaboard. This preponderance of White middle class citizens has ramifications within the healthcare market. Income levels combined with expectations from historical trends, a somewhat depressed economy, and an area that is slowly losing population means that the healthcare market is growing in need as the population ages, but not necessarily in technology and size as income and economic indicators move downward. This mix also changes the level of services needed (continuing to trend towards more geriatric care, more cardio-pulmonary issues, diabetes, obesity control, etc.), but also the quality of those services and whether the area can attract certain types of physicians. That the income ranges seem lower than U.S. averages should not be too alarming, though. As a percentage, cost of living expenses in the county are less than in the major urban areas. We can also see some trends in issues involving education in the area, since as a community, less than 20 precent of the population has received a BA degree or above.
The county boasts a 71 precent religious affiliation as compared to 48 precent nationally. The primary religious affiliation is Catholic, 42 precent, double the national average. Eleven precent re Lutheran, and 12 precent other Christian, with the rest a small mix of protestant faiths. There is very little violent crime and property crime, 1/2 of the national average. Cost of living is 13 points below the national average, with food and utilities just slightly above. Overall, it costs about 13 precent less to live in the county. The unemployment rate is a bit higher than the national average, 9.6 precent compared to 9.1, and recent job growth is at a 2 precent loss. Income levels present some challenges, but as the chart below shows, it is not too far from the average American middle class (Schuylkill County, 2010):
The Schuylkill healthcare system is composed of two man medical centers located in Pottsville, four additional dental and other health clinics. The services are designed not just as medical centers, but as resource areas and educational facilities. In fact, in 2011 there have been several awards and national recognitions for the centers:
June 2011 -- a new Paediatric program with ties to the Children's hospital in Danvile announced a paediatric hospitalist who will dedicate their practice solely to treating children in a hospital setting -- from the ER through maternity and up to adolescence.
June 2011 -- The National League for Nursing Accrediting recognized the Schuylkill Health School of Nursing in Pottsville as a full-fledged member.
May 2011 -- The American Heart Association awarded the Schuylkill Medical Centers with Silver Performance Awards in heart disease prevention.
February 2011 -- The Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center was recognized nationally for its excellence in Physical Rehab Programs (Press Releases and Awards,...
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