Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0Where Pitkin residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Pitkin, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pitkin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pitkin
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Pitkin
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14.1%), vs 7.8% across Colorado. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 5.1% across Colorado. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 2.7% across Colorado. In all, Pitkin runs above Colorado on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Pitkin is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Pitkin’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Pitkin, and more people treating it
38.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Colorado 27%), but 79.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 69.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Pitkin
The closest emergency room is Gunnison Valley Hospital in Gunnison, 22.5 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Pitkin keeps up with checkups
It beats Colorado on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (79% vs 71.4%) and dentist visits (74.2% vs 64.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Colorado figure falls outside Pitkin’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Pitkin adults…
Pitkin runs above CO on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pitkin
No hospital or community health center in Pitkin 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 Pitkin; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Pitkin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Pitkin adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Pitkin does better than Colorado.
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.
Pitkin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pitkin adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Pitkin
Why doesn’t Pitkin have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Pitkin.
What hospital is closest to Pitkin?
Gunnison Valley Hospital in Gunnison, 22.5 miles in a straight line from Pitkin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pitkin.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado 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.