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Know everybody, help your neighbor...if we have a need, we don’t wait for 

other people to take care of it. [We are] very self-sufficient...very much 

family-oriented.

—Joy E. Glassmire, Director, Potter County Children 

 and Youth Services

Surrounded by mountains and forestland, Potter County, Pennsylvania, is described in tourism materials 

as “God’s Country.” This rural community with an estimated population of just over 17,000 is tucked into 

the northern Appalachian Mountains. Of the county’s 692,000-plus acres, more than 60 percent is either 

owned by the state and maintained as state parks, forestland, or game lands, or protected under the state’s 

farm and forest preservation program.

Three major watersheds meet in Potter County: those of the Chesapeake Bay, the St. Lawrence River, 

and the Mississippi River. In addition, the headwaters of the Allegheny River have their source in the 

county.

Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, hunting, and fishing are popular here, enjoyed by 

residents and tourists alike. Although tourism and farming are big business, Potter County’s economy is 

Doug Kerr / Creative Commons 2.0 Generic

Coudersport, Pennsylvania, is the county seat of Potter County. 
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more diverse than that of many other counties highlighted in this report and includes telecommunications, 

health care, education, construction, and government.

Potter County also has its challenges: limited public revenue, lack of transportation, and increasing 

concern about opioid abuse. But it is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties— and one of two 

counties in Appalachian Pennsylvania—identified as a Bright Spot. It performed better than expected on

14 out of 19 health outcome measures, most notably on the following:

 Infant mortality: 37 percent better than expected

 Poisoning mortality: 33 percent better than expected

 Heart disease hospitalizations: 31 percent better than expected

 Stroke mortality: 26 percent better than expected

 Years of potential life lost: 24 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives that improve 

overall well-being. For example, field research suggests that committed local health care providers and 

strong regional and local collaboration have played a major role in the county’s health. In Potter County, 

a community culture of volunteering and involvement may also contribute to a health-promoting sense of 

social cohesion.

Potter County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, the 

socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all residents here enjoy excellent health. In fact, the county still lags 

behind the rest of the nation on many health indicators. Like other counties with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Potter County’s performance, however, 

indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-than-expected 

outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting similar 

initiatives.1

 1 See Table 30 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Potter

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 11: Map - Bright Spot Community Potter County, Pennsylvania 

Potter County represents a nonmetropolitan county in Northern Appalachia. 

It is one of two Bright Spot counties in Appalachian Pennsylvania.

Located in north-central Pennsylvania, Potter is one of the state’s less populous counties (63rd in 

population out of 67 counties). Eighty-three percent of Potter County’s 17,451 residents live in five small 

towns. Coudersport, with a population of 2,546, is the county seat. One state road links Coudersport to 

Williamsport, which is about 90 miles to the southeast. 

The population is racially homogeneous, approximately 98 percent white. Nearly half (48.8 percent) of 

adults have at least some college education, compared with 63.3 percent nationally. The median 2014 

household income was $40,323, significantly lower than the national median of $56,135. Unemployment 

in 2014 was 7.4 percent, compared with 6.5 percent regionally and 6.2 percent nationally. Just over 14 

percent of residents live in poverty, compared with 15.6 percent nationally.2

 

2

 Table 28 in the Potter County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Potter County, PA

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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Revenue is a challenge in Potter County because the state owns so much of the land. In lieu of property 

taxes, the county receives payment from the state on those lands, which until recently was only $3.60 per 

acre, and that revenue has to be divided among the county, the municipalities, and the school district. As 

of 2017, the state will pay the county $6.00 per acre—a 67 percent increase in revenue on those lands 

(Swift 2016).

Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport is the hub of health care and wellness for a six-county rural 

region and is a magnet that draws resources from larger health care centers in Pennsylvania and New 

York. Through Cole Memorial’s extensive network, most Potter County residents can readily access 

primary and specialty care services, first-response emergency care, and fitness opportunities.

A DEEPER LOOK AT POTTER COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

Like the residents of other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, people in Potter County have 

worked to elevate physical, social, and economic health in several ways. There’s a strong sense of health 

as a shared resource here, and a sense that everyone in the community plays a role in promoting it—

whether through volunteering, looking out for one’s neighbors, or working to protect the environment.

Field work helped identify local practices that appear to be contributing to overall health, document 

effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices and 

strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research identified these characteristics and 

strategies in Potter County:

 3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 29 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.

Amanda Jones

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, in Ulysses, is one of Potter County’s tourist attractions.
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 Community-oriented health services: Cole Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit critical access 

hospital that has been part of the community for over a century; its extensive network of health 

clinics and wellness centers offers routine as well as specialty services. The hospital 

incorporates community participation and feedback to provide efficiently tailored services.

 Strategic collaboration: A regional partnership strategically pools resources to improve health 

outcomes for people at risk; local collaboration is facilitated by the location of all social 

services in one building.

 Resident involvement: Volunteering is part of the community culture, and residents consider 

themselves active stewards of their environment.

 Employer support for health and wellness: Local employers provide good health benefits and 

encourage participation in wellness programs.

Like other Bright Spot communities, Potter County has programs in place that fall into several 

overarching categories: leadership, cross-sector collaboration and resource sharing, and local providers 

committed to public health.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

It is difficult to overstate the importance of Cole Memorial Hospital’s leadership to Potter County. It is 

the anchor institution here, with roots dating back to 1917, when it opened as Coudersport Hospital. In 

2007, Cole Memorial was designated a critical access hospital, and today it operates as a charitable 

nonprofit health care organization serving 55,000 residents in an area that includes Pennsylvania’s Potter, 

Cameron, McKean, and Tioga Counties.

According to its 2017 annual report, Cole Memorial had 65,300 outpatient visits; 23,650 home health 

visits; 9,000 emergency visits; and 4,000 express care visits that year. It logged 6,300 inpatient days; 

performed 5,600 surgeries; and delivered 200 babies. Cole Memorial is also a major employer, with 824 

employees, 610 of whom are full-time.

In addition to the hospital in Coudersport, Cole operates a network of 10 health clinics that serve residents 

in north-central Pennsylvania and south-central New York. Satellite clinics opened in the towns of 

Emporium, Ulysses, and Shinglehouse in 1979; additional offices opened in the towns of Eldred, 

Smethport, Westfield, and adjoining counties in the 1990s. The Cole system also includes specialty units 

that provide home and hospice care, psychiatric care for seniors, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, 

emergency medicine, cardiac rehabilitation, and radiation oncology. Other specialty practices include 

cardiology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, pain management, general surgery, podiatry, telepsychiatry, telerheumatology, and gastroenterology.

Viewed as a homegrown, nonprofit institution, Cole Memorial is an organization that most residents feel 

comfortable getting care from. The location of satellite clinics in the area’s small towns further enhances 

access to care. The hospital’s sponsorship of health fairs and senior expos, its offerings of subsidized 

health screenings and involvement with workplace wellness services, and its new initiative to help 

patients better navigate the health care system all reinforce its image as a critical community pillar.

The county also offers veterans’ health care: several years ago county officials succeeded in bringing a 

branch of the Bath (New York) VA Medical Center to Coudersport. Prior to the clinic’s opening, veterans 
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had to drive nearly two hours each way to get to their medical appointments. Now, they can get care in 

the community.

Employers also play an influential role in supporting community health. Potter County has more than 50 

sizeable employers, and nine of the ten largest employers offer health insurance benefits. Six of the top 50 

employers are school districts, government agencies, or employers associated with the Cole health care 

system. All of these employers offer health benefits. Cole Memorial Hospital also offers its employees an 

extensive wellness program, one that constitutes a model for other employers in the region. 

Commitment to health is also evident in the Potter County public school system. Public schools contract 

with Dickinson Center, Inc., a nonprofit provider of rural behavioral health care, for acute crisis services

when students are in distress. The schools also collaborate with Cole Memorial to offer health and dental 

screenings to students. Project Rapport offers special education for pregnant and parenting teens. The Too 

Good for Drugs program educates students about the dangers of drug use. A program called A Way Out 

deals with domestic violence and sexual abuse and promotes healthy relationships. Another program, 

Parents Helping Parents, provides support for parents struggling to cope with their children’s behavior. 

The schools have also worked with the Potter County Suicide Prevention Task Force to bring in the 

national Rachel’s Challenge program, which works to reduce harassment, bullying, and violence in 

schools. 

In addition, criminal justice leaders recognize the links 

between public safety, health, and quality of life. A pre-trial 

diversion program offers treatment to offenders with mental 

health or substance abuse issues, instead of putting them in 

jail. The county has developed specialty courts, and 

discussions are in the works to develop similar court programs

handling veterans and those with mental health issues.

Through these programs, recidivism has dropped, saving the 

county money and helping people get their lives on track.

In-jail programs and a residential recovery center help people 

address issues that are keeping them from leading productive 

lives. The CLEAN protocol—Concerned Law Enforcement 

Against Narcotics—gives drug users an opportunity to seek 

treatment without being criminally charged. 

Transportation is an issue for many defendants involved in drug courts who need to get to appointments 

in different parts of the county. When a judge floated the idea of providing bicycles, the county drug and 

alcohol services division secured a grant to purchase 15 bikes for defendants to use. 

Cross-Sector Collaboration and Resource Sharing

Cole Memorial Hospital is a key agent in orchestrating local cooperation and regional collaboration. The 

hospital has long served as a link between patients and specialty care providers in the region and 

throughout the state. In recent years, the hospital has formed collaborative relationships with the Guthrie 

Clinic in Sayre, Pennsylvania, to provide care in otolaryngology; with Geisinger Health in Danville, 

Pennsylvania, to provide psychiatric care, and with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot to 

provide heart and vascular care. More than 20 years ago, the hospital joined with Lock Haven University 

of Pennsylvania to create a training program for physician assistants seeking to work in medically 

County Commissioner Paul Heimel

Amanda Jones
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underserved parts of the state. In this way, Cole has connected its patients and its primary care staff to the 

medical resources of a much wider area.

Locally, the hospital has facilitated cooperation 

through its Community Health Council and 

Community Benefit Advisor program. A 

more recent regional initiative, the Northern 

Tier Community Health Collaborative, pools

resources and coordinates physical, behavioral 

health, and drug and alcohol services for 

vulnerable populations in rural areas. A

strategic focus for the collaborative is 

promoting “health literacy” to help patients 

understand their basic health needs and how to 

get those needs met. 

Another example of cooperation in Potter County is the consolidation of human services under one roof, 

similar to what officials in Tioga County, New York, did. This hub arrangement facilitates information

sharing, networking, and coordination—and makes it easier for residents to get needed services.

There is a strong sense of small-town connectedness throughout Potter County. People here feel 

responsible for each other and help their neighbors when they are in need. In this way, they share 

important personal resources—time, energy, expertise, and goodwill—that advance community health. 

Volunteerism is part of life here. Volunteers coach youth sports and work at the Potter County Fair, the 

God’s Country Marathon, and the Austin Dam Memorial Park. They monitor water quality, protect 

animals, and mark hiking trails.

People here are also particularly mindful of the needs of elderly community members. Senior centers in 

Potter County are not just for socializing—they offer classes on medication management, how to avoid

scams, and how to deal with wildlife encounters; organize bus trips and walking groups; assist with 

Meals on Wheels; complete community service projects; and provide a social support safety net for area 

seniors.

Meals on Wheels is an important program, providing food and wellness checks for seniors, some of 

whom are shut-ins living in remote areas. During a particularly tough winter when many back roads were 

impassable by car, volunteers drove snowmobiles to deliver meals to needy seniors.

Residents view themselves as stewards of their environment. They are particularly proud—and 

protective—of their water resources. Several groups have formed to monitor these resources—public, 

private, and surface. 

People also band together to protect other important community assets. In Coudersport, residents raised

hundreds of thousands of dollars to save the community pool, the county’s only public swimming facility. 

When the borough council considered a proposal to sell part of Coudersport’s arboretum, a source of 

history and pride to the community, 850 Coudersport residents signed a petition opposing the move. Their 

impassioned pleas during a council meeting on the proposal helped stop the sale.

Recently, a well-loved ski resort at Denton Hill State Park, the only one of its type in the region, was 

closed. Community members immediately joined forces to create the “Save Ski Denton” movement, 

Cole Memorial Dentistry in Coudersport

Amanda Jones
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which gained traction online and eventually caught the attention of state lawmakers. The state is now 

working to turn the park into a year-round destination. 

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

Cole Memorial has demonstrated remarkable support for community health—in some cases, magnifying 

the effects of health-promoting activities in other sectors. For example, employer support for health is 

bolstered by the hospital’s Center for Workplace Wellness, which provides preventive health care and 

screenings to local industries and organizations. As an outgrowth of its 2016 Community Health Needs 

Assessment, Cole is developing a multi-year workplace wellness program to help employers improve the 

health of their employees. Four more local employers have recently committed to becoming wellness 

partners next year. Here, again, Cole Memorial is playing a major role in bringing health care services to 

the Potter County community.

The hospital also operates four wellness centers in the region, including one in Coudersport. Open 24 

hours every day, these centers offer exercise and strength-training equipment, locker rooms, steam rooms, 

whirlpools, and outdoor walking trails, as well as exercise and other health-related classes. In addition, 

the region hosts other privately operated fitness facilities, and public school gyms are open to residents. 

No other Bright Spot county offered this range of exercise and wellness resources.

Cole Memorial’s community orientation is evident in other ways. One of the governing board’s four 

subcommittees, the Community Health Council, guides the hospital’s efforts to improve public health in 

its service region. The health council also maintains an associated Community Benefit Advisor

program that brings together approximately 100 representatives from local institutions and community 

groups to discuss emerging health issues and how the hospital can best respond. This group meets four 

times a year and recently helped Cole conduct a community health needs assessment.

The hospital is also active with the county’s four senior centers and has organized a dental health 

collaborative. In addition, the hospital teams up with local civic organizations (e.g., Rotary clubs) and 

libraries to host five comprehensive blood analysis events every year, serving more than 800 community 

residents. These events are held on Saturdays at various locations in the county. Cole Memorial also 

provides free mammograms and cancer screenings every month. Low-cost comprehensive blood panel 

workups are also available at screening events. 

The hospital’s ob-gyn and cardiac rehabilitation services may play a role in lowering rates of infant 

mortality and heart disease mortality. Health fairs, where residents can get free or low-cost screenings for 

high blood pressure and cholesterol, may help lower heart disease and stroke mortality. Health benefit 

plans that cover prenatal care may also contribute to lowering infant mortality and low-birth-weight

births. Psychological barriers to care-seeking may be lowered because Cole is a locally rooted institution

with a local identity.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN POTTER COUNTY

Strong leadership and collaboration have helped Potter County overcome many of the health challenges 

faced by resource-strained rural areas that lack public transportation. Over the years, Cole Memorial 

Hospital has developed an extensive service network—including outpatient clinics, specialty services, 

wellness centers, and screening programs—that is the backbone for health care in the county. Community 

participation and feedback play an important role in shaping the hospital’s approach to serving the 

population, including the services and programs it offers. 
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Strategic collaboration has also strengthened regional and local capacity for meeting health needs in 

Potter County. Cole Memorial has forged partnerships with other providers, such as the Guthrie Clinic, 

Geisinger Health, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot, to provide services that residents 

need. And a more recent regional initiative, the Northern Tier Community Health Collaborative, pools 

resources and coordinates health services for people living in rural areas.

With limited government funding, community members have nurtured a culture of volunteerism and 

activism that helps to fill gaps in services and preserve shared resources. They contribute to protecting the 

health of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, and to safeguarding health-supporting community 

assets.

Finally, many local employers recognize the importance of community health. They offer good health 

benefits and encourage employees to participate in wellness programs.

Together, these factors help keep Potter County a health-promoting community while ensuring the 

welfare of its residents.
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report." Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Chandra, Anita, Joie Acosta, Katherine Carman, Tamara Dubowitz, Laura Leviton, Laurie Martin, 

Carolyn Miller, et al. 2016. Building a National Culture of Health.

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1100/RR1199/RAND_RR1199.pdf

Cole Memorial. 2017. “2017 Annual Summary.” Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.netreturns.biz/Client_Files/cole/CM/System/FY17%20ColeAnnualReport-Doc.pdf

Egede, Leonard E. 2006. “Race, Ethnicity, Culture, and Disparities in Health Care.” Journal of General 

Internal Medicine 21 (6): 667-669. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.0512.x

Ellison, Ayla. 2016. Hospital CFO Report: 6 common characteristics of hospitals vulnerable to closure.

February 09. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/6-common-characteristics-of-hospitals-vulnerable-toclosure.html

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee. 1990. Medicare: A Strategy for Quality Assurance. Edited by KN 

Lohr. Vol. 1. Washington (D.C.): National Academies Press (U.S.). 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235460/

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. U.S. DHHS. 2017. Healthy People / 2020 Topics & 

Objectives/ Access to Health Services. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

Potter County Planning Deparment. 2000. “Potter County Comprehensive Plan - Preserving and 

Enhancing the Quality of Life for Current and Future Residents of Potter County.” 2017. Welcome to 

Potter County. 

http://www.visitpottercounty.com/

Swift, Robert. 2016. “Payments for state-owned forests, parks increasing.” The Times Tribune, December 

18, 2016. 

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/payments-for-state-owned-forests-parks-increasing-1.2131552

World Health Organization. 2017. The determinants of health. 

http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/
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APPENDIX: POTTER COUNTY DATA

Table 28: Potter County Characteristics

Characteristic Potter County United States

Population, 2010–2014 17,451 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -2.10% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 45.5 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 22.30% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $40,323 $56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $22,318 $28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 7.4% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 14.3% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 97.80% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 0.50% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 48.77% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center

Williamsport, PA 

(73.4 mi.) N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Transitional

Northern Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 29: Potter County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Joy Glassmire Roulette

Director of Potter County 

Children and Youth 

Services

Potter County Human 

Services 5/16/2017

Kari Kurtz Coudersport Director of Community 

and Employer Relations Cole Memorial Hospital 5/15/2017

Joe Lazurek Coudersport Senior Pastor Coudersport Alliance 

Church 5/15/2017

John Leete Coudersport Senior Judge Potter County Courthouse 5/15/2017

Donald Tanner Coudersport District 3 Director PennState Extension –

Potter County 5/16/2017

Monica 

Williams Shinglehouse Case Manager / Home 

and School Visitor

Oswayo Valley School 

District 5/16/2017
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Table 30: Potter County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 4.28 6.85 -37.4%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 11.60 17.29 -32.9%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 152.84 221.74 -31.1%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 40.60 58.63 -30.8%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 34.43 46.68 -26.2%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 6,630 8,769 -24.4%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 13.83 17.22 -19.7%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500 g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 7.04 7.77 -9.4%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 53.34 57.21 -6.8%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 50.45 53.72 -6.1%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 11.6% 12.3% -5.9%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.95 1.01 -5.8%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 16.2% 16.6% -2.5%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 3.90 3.97 -1.8%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.10 4.08 0.5%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 190.74 188.74 1.1%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 32.4% 31.1% 4.3%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 16.2% 15.3% 5.7%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 6.55 5.44 20.3%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) - 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 31: Potter County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Potter 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 12.79 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 21.99 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 176.37 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 29.07 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 117.22 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.80 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.40 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $40,323.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 40.65 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 19.7%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 30.2%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 48.8%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 4.2%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 85.4%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 55.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 84.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 14.3%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 62.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 41.9%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.00%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 6.9%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 27.6%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 18.8%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 51.55 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Potter 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 19.43 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 57.30 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 12.47 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 40.46 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 13.98 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.