The health of Southwest, PA is an important issue for residents and visitors alike. The area is home to a variety of hospitals and medical facilities, providing care to people in need. From the rural community hospital to large, urban medical centers, the health care infrastructure in Southwest, PA is well-developed. Community health initiatives provide education and outreach on healthy living and prevention of chronic disease. Access to care that includes primary care physicians, specialists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals ensures quality health services throughout the region. Health screenings and wellness programs are available in many local communities, giving residents the opportunity to take proactive steps toward maintaining their physical well-being. Ongoing research into new techniques for diagnosis and treatment continue to push forward advances in healthcare technology for patients in Southwest, PA.
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 151 physicians per 100,000 population in Southwest. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Southwest area is 91.5 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
91.5 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Southwest area is 87 (100=best). The US average is 55.
87 / 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 Southwest area is 87 (100=best). The US average is 87.
87 / 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 Southwest commutes 30.6 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 Southwest 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.