Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Birch River residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Birch River, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Birch River. How CDC estimates town health
Out of every 100 Birch River adults…
On every condition, Birch River is about the same as West Virginia. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Birch River
No hospital or community health center in Birch River 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 Birch River; ≈ 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 West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Birch River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Birch River adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
4 in 10 Birch River 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.
15.7% of Birch River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Birch River 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 Birch River adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Birch River
Why doesn’t Birch River have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Birch River.
What hospital is closest to Birch River?
Braxton County Memorial Hospital in Gassaway, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Birch River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Birch River?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Kathleen & John Faltis Child Shelter in Summersville, 9.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Birch River.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The West Virginia 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.