Pine Ridge, South Dakota is home to a unique and diverse population of Native American people. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is situated in the southwest corner of the state and is home to many members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The health of this population is a major concern for the residents and local healthcare professionals. There are several local hospitals located on the reservation that provide much needed medical care to the community. Additionally, there are a number of local medical facilities such as clinics, pharmacies, and other health services that provide essential services to meet the needs of the community. Residents also benefit from outreach programs hosted by tribal leadership or other organizations that bring in outside medical professionals to help with specific needs. These services combined with access to mental health support, preventive care initiatives, and public health education all work together to ensure that Pine Ridge has a high standard of healthcare for its residents.
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 42 physicians per 100,000 population in Pine Ridge. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Pine Ridge area is 98.2 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
98.2 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Pine Ridge area is 20 (100=best). The US average is 55.
20 / 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 Pine Ridge area is 74 (100=best). The US average is 87.
74 / 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 Pine Ridge commutes 17.0 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 Pine Ridge area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 58.
92 / 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.