Polk County
TennesseeFIPS 47139
Polk County has no hospital. Residents must travel to neighboring counties for hospital care.
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Polk County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 12.2% | 12.5% | ▼ |
| Adult Obesity | 37.6% | 39.1% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 12.9% | 11.9% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 3.4 | 4.4 | ▲ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 14,383.666 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Polk County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 15.9% | — | |
| Obesity | 44.1% | — | |
| Depression | 30.7% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 20.3% | — | |
| COPD | 11.9% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 21.4% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 9.3% | — | |
| Stroke | 4.7% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 45.0% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 26.3% | — | |
| Disability | 41.3% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 31.3% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 13.9% | — | |
| Uninsured | 11.7% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Polk County has no hospital. 24 of Tennessee's counties are hospital deserts.
See all hospital deserts in TennesseeSocial Vulnerability Index
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Nearest Hospitals
Since Polk County has no hospital, residents travel to nearby facilities.
| Hospital | County | Beds | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Medical Center | Bradley | 351 | 19.1 mi |
| Starr Regional Medical Center Athens | McMinn | 190 | 23.2 mi |
| Sweetwater Hospital Association | Monroe | 59 | 34.2 mi |
| Rhea Medical Center | Rhea | 25 | 38.3 mi |
| Memorial Healthcare System, Inc | Hamilton | 431 | 41 mi |
Hospital Closures
| Hospital | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Basin Medical Center | 2017 | Complete |
Source: UNC Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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.