Cook Blacksmith Shop · Photo: Ammodramus · Public domainWhere Ponca residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ponca, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ponca. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ponca
Cancer and heart disease run high in Ponca
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.4%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. In all, Ponca runs above Nebraska on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Nebraska 17%), and cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Ponca is short on primary care and mental health care
Ponca’s 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 Nebraska figure falls outside Ponca’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Ponca adults…
Ponca runs above NE on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Ponca is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Heart disease, stroke and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Ponca as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Ponca
No hospital or community health center in Ponca 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 Ponca; ≈ 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 Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Ponca adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
How Ponca adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Ponca 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.
8.1% of Ponca adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Ponca 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 Ponca adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ponca
Why doesn’t Ponca have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ponca.
What hospital is closest to Ponca?
St. Lukes Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, 15.8 miles in a straight line from Ponca’s 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 Ponca?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Horizon Health - Elk Point in Elk Point, 8.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ponca.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nebraska 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.