Polk County, North Carolina is home to many hospitals and medical facilities with a wide variety of services and resources. The county offers numerous health care facilities, including the Carolinas Medical Center Polk County, Rutherford Regional Health System, and several smaller independent hospitals. Additionally, there are numerous community health centers that offer primary care, dental services, mental health services, and more. All these health care options allow for residents in Polk County to have access to quality healthcare close to where they live. Furthermore, the area has an abundance of health professionals such as physicians and nurses that provide specialized care in different areas of medicine. The county also provides ample opportunities for education and training within the healthcare field for individuals looking to further their career or gain new skills. Ultimately, the citizens of Polk County have access to quality healthcare when needed and are able to better prepare themselves for any future medical needs or emergencies.
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 138 physicians per 100,000 population in Polk County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Polk County area is 111.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
111.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Polk County area is 40 (100=best). The US average is 55.
40 / 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 Polk County area is 98 (100=best). The US average is 87.
98 / 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 Polk County commutes 25.7 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 Polk County area is 71 (100=best). The US average is 58.
71 / 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.