The health of the Columbia, SC Metro Area is an important aspect of the area. This area has a wide variety of medical services available to residents, including local hospitals and medical facilities. Medical centers in this area offer comprehensive care for individuals and families, including adult primary care, specialty care, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology and imaging services, physical therapy, laboratory services, emergency medicine, and surgical services. The many hospitals in the region are well-equipped with the latest technologies to provide excellent care to patients. Additionally, there are several medical centers that specialize in treating specific illnesses or conditions such as cancer or heart disease. In terms of mental health services, there are also plenty of resources available in the form of counseling centers and support groups. All of these options provide quality healthcare to those who need it most.
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 200 physicians per 100,000 population in Columbia Metro Area. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Columbia Metro Area area is 103.8 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
103.8 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Columbia Metro Area area is 59 (100=best). The US average is 55.
59 / 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 Columbia Metro Area area is 79 (100=best). The US average is 87.
79 / 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 Columbia Metro Area commutes 23.7 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 Columbia Metro Area area is 52 (100=best). The US average is 58.
52 / 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.