Gales, SD is a small town with a population of approximately 800 people. Despite its small size, Gales is still home to a few health care facilities and hospitals. The main hospital in town is the Gales Regional Medical Center which offers general medical care as well as specialized care for patients in need. There are also two smaller local medical facilities that offer more basic health services such as primary care and basic laboratory testing. For more specialized treatments, residents of Gales have access to telemedicine, allowing them to access specialists from larger urban areas. In addition to these options, there are plenty of community resources such as wellness programs and health centers within the area. Overall, Gales has accessible health care options available to its residents making it an ideal place to live for those looking for quality medical services.
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 0 physicians per 100,000 population in Gales. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Gales area is 98.7 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
98.7 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Gales area is 33 (100=best). The US average is 55.
33 / 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 Gales area is 100 (100=best). The US average is 87.
100 / 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 Gales commutes 16.4 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 Gales area is 93 (100=best). The US average is 58.
93 / 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.