LYNDHURST, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When it comes to getting top-ranked care from well-respected doctors, chances are the nation’s largest cities spring to mind. But, according to the Vitals Index second annual report on America’s Top Cities for Access to Health Care, Cleveland ranks as the best place for health care in the nation.
America’s Comeback City has the highest per-capita ratio of both hospitals and primary care physicians per resident. Cleveland toppled Boston, which held the top spot in 2013, but moved to #5 on the list this year. Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Kansas City made up spots #2, #3 and #4.
As issues like doctor shortages and rising costs become more burdensome, easy access to quality health care becomes more important to the aging American population. Large metropolises, like Los Angeles, which was ranked #46, need more doctors and hospitals in order to keep pace with their population growth.
“Cities – along with rural areas – need to address the large disparities that exist in accessing care across the nation” said Mitch Rothschild, CEO of Vitals. “The rise of alternative care facilities, along with more nurse practitioners and the advancement of telemedicine technology all can help bring more affordable quality care options to consumers.”
To create the list of America’s Top Cities for Access to Health Care, Vitals analyzed the number of hospitals and primary care physicians available in each city on a per-capita basis. Patient-reported metrics such as doctor quality, ease of getting an appointment and wait times at appointments were also calculated into the final rankings.
The top ten cities in order:
| #1 | Cleveland | |
| #2 | Minneapolis | |
| #3 | Milwaukee | |
| #4 | Kansas City | |
| #5 | Boston | |
| #6 | Omaha | |
| #7 | Denver | |
| #7 | Miami (tie) | |
| #9 | Atlanta | |
| #10 | Nashville |
To see the full list of city rankings, visit Vitals.com.
About Vitals
Vitals is reinventing the way people chose doctors and medical facilities. We provide increased transparency to cost, quality and access information to support effective decision making. Vitals brings together actionable data, online tools and an engaging consumer experience that empowers consumers to make more informed, higher-quality and lower-cost health care decisions. Through health plans, hospitals and our leading consumer websites, Vitals helps more than 150 million people each year access information for better, more affordable care. The Vitals Index is an ongoing report about the state of doctor-patient relationships based on proprietary data and surveys.
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