As payers and healthcare organizations focus on social determinants of health, they are making attempts to survey the public about their perceptions of factors affecting health. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) and the Brown University School of Public Health have created an index that measures Rhode Islanders’ perceptions about their own health and well-being, as well as that of their community.
The RI Life Index is based on interviews conducted with more than 2,200 Rhode Islanders about life factors influencing health and well-being in the state. The survey results offer a window into what state residents believe to be significant challenges as well as community strengths.
The RI Life Index survey was conducted in April and May 2019 with randomly selected Rhode Island residents from across the state. The survey, conducted by telephone or on the web, focused on social determinants of health, as well as topic areas specific to older adults, children, social integration and access to healthcare. The survey also asked about the opioid epidemic, access to mental health and substance use treatment, discrimination in healthcare and emergency room use.
BCBSRI said the RI Life Index showed strengths in the following areas: availability of safe and reliable transportation; access to affordable, nutritious food; availability and quality of civic, social, and healthcare services for seniors and the ability to age in place; and programs and services available for children. In contrast, respondents had lower perceptions of the availability of quality affordable housing, job opportunities and job training programs.
“The RI Life Index confirms something we’ve seen reported at the national level – when it comes to health outcomes and overall well-being, zip code is more important than genetic code. Where people are born and live in Rhode Island has a profound impact on their lives,” said Kim Keck, BCBSRI president and CEO, in a statement. “Using the RI Life Index data as a foundation, for the first time in our company history we will launch BlueAngel Community Health Grants focused on housing, complementing our existing philanthropic investments.”
