Hospitals
What it means
This looks for nearby hospital access and broader care capacity. A stronger signal means care may be easier to reach.
How we calculate it
We look for hospital availability near the city and weigh it with broader care capacity. More nearby, relevant care access raises the signal.
Sources and freshness
CMS, OpenStreetMap, WHO, World Bank, and public facility records.
Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.
Limitations
Proximity and capacity do not measure clinical quality, insurance coverage, appointment availability, or whether a hospital offers a specific service.
Primary care
What it means
Primary care looks for everyday medical access, such as doctors, clinics, and local care options.
How we calculate it
We count and compare everyday care options near the city, then normalize the result so larger and smaller places can be compared more fairly.
Sources and freshness
CMS, public provider records, OpenStreetMap, and local care directories.
Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.
Limitations
Provider counts do not guarantee that a practice is accepting patients, taking a specific insurance plan, or offering timely appointments.
Pharmacies
What it means
Pharmacies matter because they make daily care easier. They can also show whether a city has practical health services nearby.
How we calculate it
We look for pharmacy access around the city and use it as one practical sign of daily healthcare convenience.
Sources and freshness
OpenStreetMap, public facility records, and local provider records.
Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.
Limitations
A mapped pharmacy does not confirm current hours, medication stock, delivery, accessibility, or the services available at that location.
Country care context
What it means
For places outside the United States, the city page may use country or regional care context when detailed city data is limited.
How we calculate it
When city level records are limited, we blend available local signals with country or regional healthcare measures so international places still have useful context.
Sources and freshness
WHO, World Bank, OECD, public health records, and local records where available.
Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.
Limitations
Country and regional measures are broad context. They cannot replace city level access, insurance, language, residency, or provider research.