The health of the community in Shishmaref, AK is closely tied to the availability of local medical facilities. There are no hospitals or large medical centers located in the area, so residents have to rely on a limited number of smaller medical centers and clinics for their primary care needs. These facilities are staffed by a team of trained professionals who provide a range of services from general physicals and check-ups to more specialized treatments and procedures. Additionally, there are several groups that provide health education programs to the people of Shishmaref. These programs focus on nutrition, exercise, mental health, substance use prevention, and other topics related to healthy living. It is clear that access to quality healthcare is essential for the well-being of all members of the community.
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 122 physicians per 100,000 population in Shishmaref. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Shishmaref area is 118.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
118.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Shishmaref area is 29 (100=best). The US average is 55.
29 / 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 Shishmaref area is 7 (100=best). The US average is 87.
7 / 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 Shishmaref commutes 4.9 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 Shishmaref area is 85 (100=best). The US average is 58.
85 / 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.