Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domainWhere Gakona residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Gakona, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gakona. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gakona
The nearest ER is 97 miles from Gakona
The closest emergency room is Providence Valdez Medical Center in Valdez, 97.2 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Cross Road Health Ministries is closer (19.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Heart disease, stroke and cancer run high in Gakona
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.1%), vs 5.7% across Alaska. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.8%), vs 3.1% across Alaska. Cancer is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 7% across Alaska. In all, Gakona runs above Alaska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Gakona, and more people treating it
42.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Alaska 32.5%), but 76.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 68% statewide. Checkups ↓
Gakona is short on dental care and mental health care
Gakona’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Alaska figure falls outside Gakona’s likely range.
Care in and near Gakona
No hospital or community health center in Gakona itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gakona; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Gakona adults…
Gakona runs above AK on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gakona adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
How Gakona adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Gakona does better than Alaska.
3 in 10 Gakona adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.5% of Gakona adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Gakona and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulkana | — | — | — | — | |
| Chistochina | — | — | — | — |
Gulkana and Chistochina: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gakona adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Gakona
Why doesn’t Gakona have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Gakona.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gakona.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alaska figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.