Birmingham, Alabama is one of the largest cities in the state with a diverse population and many medical facilities. The city has a number of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other healthcare facilities located throughout the city. These include UAB Hospital and Medical Center, Children's of Alabama, Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, St. Vincent's Birmingham Hospital, and Cooper Green Mercy Health System. These healthcare providers offer a variety of services ranging from primary care to specialized care. In addition to these medical centers, there are several local non-profit organizations that provide health services for those in need such as Free Clinic Birmingham and Birmingham Health Care Inc. Furthermore, the city is home to several community health centers such as Primary Health Solutions and The Walker Family Wellness Center which offer primary care services and behavioral health support services. With all of these great resources available to its residents, Birmingham is committed to providing quality healthcare for all its citizens.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 350 physicians per 100,000 population in Birmingham. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Birmingham area is 104.2 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
104.2 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Birmingham area is 81 (100=best). The US average is 55.
81 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Birmingham area is 88 (100=best). The US average is 87.
88 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Birmingham commutes 21.5 minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Birmingham area is 26 (100=best). The US average is 58.
26 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.