Healthcare Access in Pulaski County, GA
An interactive analysis of key challenges to access to care.
The Four Pillars of Healthcare Access
Access to healthcare is a complex issue. We can understand it better by looking at four key pillars. Click each tab below to explore the data-driven challenges facing Pulaski County in each area.
Pillar I: Health Insurance Coverage
Insurance is the primary gateway to care. The data reveals high uninsured rates and a strong reliance on public programs to provide a healthcare safety net for the community.
Pillar II: Workforce & Availability
Care is inaccessible if providers and facilities are not available. The data reveals a crisis-level lack of local facilities and specialized providers for women and children.
The closure of the local hospital in 2023 has created a healthcare vacuum, forcing residents to travel to other counties for emergency and inpatient care. This is compounded by a stark provider shortage: with only 4 primary care physicians, there are no pediatricians or OB/GYNs practicing in the entire county. This creates critical, dangerous gaps in care for children and women. The local FQHC and Rural Health Clinics serve as an essential but overburdened primary care safety net.
Pillar III: Utilization & Timeliness
Access is also measured by whether residents use the system for preventive care. The data suggests that care is often delayed, leading to worse health outcomes, a problem exacerbated by the lack of a local hospital.
Without a local ER, residents must travel long distances for emergency services, making timely care for conditions like heart attacks or strokes extremely difficult. The rate of preventable hospitalizations suggests that chronic conditions are not being managed effectively at the primary care level. Critically, nearly a third of pregnant women do not receive adequate prenatal care, impacting health outcomes for the next generation.
Pillar IV: Affordability
Beyond insurance premiums, the actual cost of care can be a significant barrier. This is especially true in a community where over 20% of the population lives in poverty.
The expected increase in ACA premiums puts further strain on household budgets. The state average shows that 10% of adults already avoid necessary medical care because of cost. Given Pulaski County's economic profile and the added burden of travel costs for care, this figure is almost certainly higher locally, creating a destructive cycle where lack of affordability prevents people from seeking the care they need.
Intersecting Factors: The Modern Landscape
Access is not just about clinics and insurance. Modern factors like digital connectivity and the physical environment play a huge role.
The Digital Divide & Telehealth
While 88.3% of households own a computer, only 78.4% have a broadband internet subscription. This gap suggests that the cost of internet, not the lack of devices, is a key barrier to telehealth, risking a two-tiered system of care where the most vulnerable are left behind.
Geography & Built Environment
With nearly half the population in rural areas, traveling for care is a significant challenge. Furthermore, only 58% of residents have adequate access to places for physical activity, contributing directly to high rates of adult obesity (38.9%) and physical inactivity (31.3%).