Bethel, AK is a small community located in both the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and on the Kuskokwim River. The health of Bethel residents is of paramount importance to its citizens and local organizations. In order to ensure access to quality healthcare, there are several hospitals and medical facilities available in the Bethel area. These include South Peninsula Hospital, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, and Bethel Community Services. These hospitals offer a range of health services including emergency care, primary care, specialty care, and outpatient services. Additionally, there are various clinics that provide medical advice and treatments such as dental care and mental health counseling. Furthermore, public health initiatives such as immunization programs aim to protect the population from serious diseases. By providing these resources to its community members, Bethel is paving the way for improved health outcomes 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 95 physicians per 100,000 population in Bethel. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Bethel area is 113.8 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
113.8 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Bethel area is 83 (100=best). The US average is 55.
83 / 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 Bethel area is 69 (100=best). The US average is 87.
69 / 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 Bethel commutes 0.0 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 Bethel area is 84 (100=best). The US average is 58.
84 / 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.