Putnam County, West Virginia is a rural area with a population of just over 55,000 people. While the health conditions in the county have improved greatly over the last century, there are still issues that need to be addressed. The county has several local hospitals and medical facilities which provide access to healthcare for those needing it. These healthcare centers offer primary care services as well as specialties such as cardiology, pediatric services, and mental health services. The county also has a few pharmacies which provide essential medications for residents. Despite these advances in healthcare availability in Putnam County, there are still gaps in care when it comes to preventive measures such as vaccinations and access to healthy foods. Local initiatives are underway to educate the public on these necessary medical practices and bring fresh produce into food deserts 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 178 physicians per 100,000 population in Putnam County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Putnam County area is 95.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
95.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Putnam 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 Putnam County area is 64 (100=best). The US average is 87.
64 / 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 Putnam County commutes 24.7 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 Putnam County area is 59 (100=best). The US average is 58.
59 / 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.