Bedford, VA is a small rural town located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is home to a population of approximately 10,000 people, with an economy largely based on agriculture and tourism. In terms of health care, Bedford has access to several local hospitals and medical facilities which provide important services to its residents. The Bedford Memorial Hospital provides 24-hour emergency care as well as general medical and surgical services. There are also other nearby hospitals such as Centra Lynchburg General Hospital which provide specialized care in areas such as pediatric medicine, cardiac surgery, and mental health. Additionally, Bedford has several local clinics that offer primary care for things such as immunizations and preventive care services. Overall, Bedford offers its residents access to quality healthcare services from both hospitals and clinics throughout the town.
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 102 physicians per 100,000 population in Bedford. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Bedford area is 106.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
106.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Bedford area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 55.
92 / 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 Bedford area is 99 (100=best). The US average is 87.
99 / 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 Bedford commutes 19.4 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 Bedford area is 68 (100=best). The US average is 58.
68 / 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.