Iowa and Louisiana are two states with vastly different landscapes and cultures, but one thing they have in common is the health of their citizens. Both states offer access to local hospitals and medical facilities that provide quality care for their residents. Iowa is home to a number of nationally ranked medical centers, including the University of Iowa Health Care System and the Mayo Clinic. Louisiana boasts a large network of community-based hospitals and its own system of integrated health care delivery, which includes both public and private sector healthcare providers. These facilities offer comprehensive services from primary care to specialty care, ensuring all citizens have access to quality healthcare services. The states also focus on providing preventative services such as vaccinations and screenings that help promote overall health. In addition, Iowa and Louisiana both are committed to improving the health outcomes of vulnerable populations through targeted initiatives that focus on addressing disparities in access to care.
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 173 physicians per 100,000 population in Iowa. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Iowa area is 100.1 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
100.1 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Iowa area is 40 (100=best). The US average is 55.
40 / 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 Iowa area is 84 (100=best). The US average is 87.
84 / 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 Iowa commutes 20.5 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 Iowa area is 63 (100=best). The US average is 58.
63 / 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.