Polk County
IowaFIPS 19153
Pop. 492,4016 HospitalsSVI 0.45RUCC 2 (Metro)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Polk County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 10.0% | 9.8% | ▲ |
| Adult Obesity | 38.9% | 39.6% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 5.5% | 5.7% | ▼ |
| PCPs per 10K | 9.3 | 5.4 | ▼ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 7,653.274 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
491
Primary Care Physicians
97.2 per 100k
1,212
NPs & PAs
239.9 per 100k
414
Dentists
1,618
Hospital Beds
3.2 per 1,000
$9,957.57
Medicare Per Capita
1401.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Polk County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 10.8% | — | |
| Obesity | 37.7% | — | |
| Depression | 21.9% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 17.7% | — | |
| COPD | 6.3% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 14.3% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 5.8% | — | |
| Stroke | 3.0% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 31.9% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 18.8% | — | |
| Disability | 27.7% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 25.3% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 20.4% | — | |
| Uninsured | 8.4% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Polk's 6 hospitals.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.45
Socioeconomic Status0.24
Household Composition & Disability0.59
Minority Status & Language0.60
Housing Type & Transportation0.59
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
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Primary Care
Designated Shortage Area
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Dental Health
Designated Shortage Area
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Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Polk County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadlawns Medical Center | Des Moines | 200 | |
| Iowa Methodist Medical Center Transplant Center | Des Moines | 0 | |
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center | Des Moines | 649 | |
| Select Specialty Hospital - Des Moines | Des Moines | 30 | |
| Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi | Des Moines | 674 | |
| Va Hosp | Des Moines | 386 |
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.