Ballard County

KentuckyFIPS 21007

Pop. 7,7280 HospitalsSVI 0.25RUCC 3 (Metro)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
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Hospital Desert

Ballard County has no hospital. Residents must travel to neighboring counties for hospital care.

Health Snapshot

MetricBallard CountyState Avg 
Diabetes Prevalence12.2%12.5%
Adult Obesity39.5%40.1%
Uninsured Rate6.5%7.0%
Premature Death (YPLL)12,005.723

Source: County Health Rankings (2025)

Workforce Supply

1
Primary Care Physicians
13.2 per 100k
4
NPs & PAs
52.8 per 100k
1
Dentists
0
Hospital Beds
$11,191.29
Medicare Per Capita
1971.0%
Readmission Rate

Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025

Ballard County has no hospital. 44 of Kentucky's counties are hospital deserts.

See all hospital deserts in Kentucky

Social Vulnerability Index

Overall0.25
Socioeconomic Status0.26
Household Composition & Disability0.20
Minority Status & Language0.22
Housing Type & Transportation0.48

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
!
Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area

Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce

Nearest Hospitals

Since Ballard County has no hospital, residents travel to nearby facilities.

HospitalCountyBedsDistance
Mercy Health Lourdes HospitalMcCracken35920 mi
Baptist Health PaducahMcCracken34924.1 mi
Continuecare Hospital at Baptist Health PaducahMcCracken3724.1 mi
Jackson Purchase Medical CenterGraves9328.3 mi
Marshall County HospitalMarshall2537.9 mi

Related Pages

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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.