Policy Update: Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan

By Ashlee Cubarney, Let's Move Pittsburgh program assistant

The Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan 2015 – 2020 (SHIP), administered by the Bureau of Health Planning, was recently published to the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Developed over a two-year planning process in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders from across the state, the SHIP outlines a strategic plan for improving the health of Pennsylvania residents. The SHIP Advisory Committee identified three health priorities for Pennsylvania and set a five year strategic plan with goals, objectives and recommended strategies to achieve the goals and objectives. For each strategy, lead and collaborating agencies and organizations have been identified and will be responsible for implementing activities.

The three SHIP health priority areas are obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition; primary care and preventive services; and mental health and substance use. The plan notes that in Pennsylvania, 6.2 million adults and half a million children are overweight or obese. Excess weight can contribute to other diet-related diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, so it is important to maintain a healthy weight by practicing a healthy lifestyle; check out our 5-2-1-0 resources to help you get started. The SHIP’s second priority is access to healthcare, a growing issue in Pennsylvania that can prevent individuals from receiving healthcare services, routine exams and treatments. The third priority is mental health and substance abuse, including issues that can lead to preventable illness and death. The SHIP aims to ensure that Pennsylvania residents have the necessary tools and infrastructure in place to reduce negative health impacts in these three priority areas.  

Over the next five years, the Bureau of Health Planning, the SHIP Advisory Committee and task forces will monitor the implementation of the SHIP. Progress toward achieving objectives will be measured utilizing data collected by the Department of Health and by other organizations and agencies who work on the three priority health issues. 

Visit the Department of Health website for more information on the SHIP and to see the plan in its entirety.