Where Gem residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Gem, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gem
Stroke and diabetes are less common in Gem
Gem runs below Kansas on five chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.4% vs 3.2%), diabetes (8.6% vs 11.4%) and COPD (5.2% vs 6.7%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Gem adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Kansas. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Kansas figure falls outside Gem’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Gem adults…
Gem runs below KS on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.4% of Gem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Care in and near Gem
No hospital or community health center in Gem 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 Gem; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Kansas
Share of adults, with the Kansas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
How Gem adults are doing
About the same as Kansas on each measure.
3 in 10 Gem 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.
Gem 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 Gem adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Gem
Why doesn’t Gem have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Gem.
What hospital is closest to Gem?
Citizens Medical Center in Colby, 8.6 miles in a straight line from Gem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gem.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kansas 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.