Los Angeles County is the most populous county in California and its health care infrastructure reflects this population. The county is home to more than 11 million people, many of whom are striving to access quality health care. In Los Angeles County, there are a variety of local hospitals and medical facilities available. These hospitals provide vital healthcare services for residents, such as emergency services, inpatient and outpatient care, and mental health care. Additionally, the county has many community health clinics that offer free or low-cost medical care to those who lack access or insurance coverage. Furthermore, many educational programs exist throughout Los Angeles County focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. With so much focus on providing accessible and quality health care within the county, it is no surprise that residents of Los Angeles County are able to maintain their good health.
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 211 physicians per 100,000 population in Los Angeles County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Los Angeles County area is 85.2 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
85.2 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Los Angeles County area is 52 (100=best). The US average is 55.
52 / 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 Los Angeles County area is 95 (100=best). The US average is 87.
95 / 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 Los Angeles County commutes 30.9 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 Los Angeles County area is 43 (100=best). The US average is 58.
43 / 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.