Philadelphia, PA is a place where health is taken very seriously. With some of the top-rated hospitals in the country, Philadelphia has a variety of medical facilities to choose from. From UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside to Einstein Medical Center and Temple University Hospital, local residents have access to many different types of healthcare providers. In addition to these larger hospitals, there are also numerous community health centers which provide services to those who are uninsured or underserved by traditional healthcare systems. These health centers offer comprehensive primary care and specialty services that help meet the needs of their communities. Furthermore, Philadelphia has implemented various initiatives such as Community Health Centers and Healthy Communities programs which aim to improve the overall health outcomes in their city. By providing quality healthcare options to its residents, Philadelphia is committed to ensuring its citizens stay healthy and safe.
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 243 physicians per 100,000 population in Philadelphia. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Philadelphia area is 116.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
116.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Philadelphia area is 1 (100=best). The US average is 55.
1 / 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 Philadelphia area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 87.
92 / 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 Philadelphia commutes 32.9 minutes one-way, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Philadelphia area is 39 (100=best). The US average is 58.
39 / 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.