Hindman Ben Franklin · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWhere Phelps residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Phelps, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Phelps. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Phelps
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Phelps
1 in 5 adults have COPD (18.4%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.6%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 12.9%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Phelps runs above Kentucky on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Kentucky 17%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Phelps
45.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 41.8% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
More Phelps adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.5%), vs 26.9% across Kentucky. Habits ↓
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 Phelps’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Phelps adults…
Phelps runs above KY on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Phelps is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kentucky. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Phelps as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Phelps adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
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.
Care in and near Phelps
No hospital or community health center in Phelps 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 Phelps; ≈ 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).
How Phelps adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Phelps runs above Kentucky.
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.
30.9% of Phelps adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Phelps 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 Phelps adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Phelps
Why doesn’t Phelps have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Phelps.
What hospital is closest to Phelps?
Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center in South Williamson, 13.8 miles in a straight line from Phelps’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Phelps?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Freeburn Community Health Center in Freeburn, 3.3 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Phelps.
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.