Val Verde County is a rural area located in the state of Texas. The predominant health issue in the county is access to quality healthcare. The local hospitals and medical facilities are limited and the communities often face travel distances that make it difficult to access the care they need. This has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with many people having to put off essential appointments due to lack of mobility or financial constraints. The county also suffers from a shortage of healthcare providers such as doctors and nurses, making it even more challenging for its residents to gain access to necessary care. In addition, Val Verde lacks adequate mental health services, which puts additional strain on the economic and emotional well-being of its residents. Despite these challenges, several initiatives are currently underway to try and improve access to healthcare in Val Verde County. These include collaboration between local nonprofits and hospitals as well as public health campaigns aimed at increasing awareness about available options for healthcare within the county.
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 82 physicians per 100,000 population in Val Verde County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Val Verde County area is 108.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
108.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Val Verde County area is 60 (100=best). The US average is 55.
60 / 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 Val Verde County area is 99 (100=best). The US average is 87.
99 / 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 Val Verde County commutes 19.0 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 Val Verde County area is 67 (100=best). The US average is 58.
67 / 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.