Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Where Columbus residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Columbus, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
The nearest ER is 24 miles from Columbus
The closest emergency room is Baptist Memorial Hospital Union City in Union City, 24 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Arcare is closer (8.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Columbus is short on primary care and mental health care
Columbus’ county is a federal shortage area for primary 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 Kentucky figure falls outside Columbus’ likely range.
Care in and near Columbus
No hospital or community health center in Columbus 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 Columbus; ≈ 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 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs below KY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Columbus adults are doing
About the same as Kentucky on each measure.
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.
12.8% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Columbus 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 Columbus adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Columbus
Why doesn’t Columbus have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Columbus.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
Baptist Memorial Hospital Union City in Union City, 24.0 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Columbus?
4 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Kentuckycare - 145 in Clinton, 8.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbus.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky 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.