County health data
Kern County, CA
CDC PLACES estimates diabetes at 13.3% of adults in Kern County (California: 11.5%). This county has 80 HRSA shortage designations (22 area or population, 58 facility), 9 hospitals, and 77 health center sites.
License: a US government work, in the public domain (Public Domain Mark 1.0).
For help with food, housing, utilities, or rides in Kern County, call 211 or visit 211.org.
Health measures compared with the state
40 measures for adults in Kern County (about 654,092 adults). 24 have a California figure from the same survey.
Largest differences from the California figure: no leisure-time physical activity 31.9% vs 22.9% (+9.0 points), obesity 36.0% vs 27.7% (+8.3 points), and no health insurance, ages 18 to 64 16.7% vs 8.9% (+7.8 points).
Health Outcomes
| Measure | Kern County | California | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis | 21.2% | 21.0% | 26.3% | 2023 |
| High blood pressure | 32.0% | 30.6% | 34.0% | 2023 |
| Cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer | 5.6% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Current asthma | 10.3% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 2023 |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2% | 3.0% | 4.0% | 2023 |
| COPD | 6.4% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 2023 |
| Depression | 22.8% | 17.0% | 21.8% | 2023 |
| Diagnosed diabetes | 13.3% | 11.5% | 11.8% | 2023 |
| High cholesterol, adults ever screened | 33.0% | 37.0% | 37.2% | 2023 |
| Obesity | 36.0% | 27.7% | 34.4% | 2023 |
| Stroke | 3.5% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 2023 |
| All teeth lost, ages 65 and older | 21.5% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
Prevention
| Measure | Kern County | California | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, ages 18 to 64 | 16.7% | 8.9% | 9.3% | 2023 |
| Taking blood pressure medicine, adults with high blood pressure | 68.2% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Routine checkup in the past year | 70.7% | 74.5% | 78.4% | 2023 |
| Cholesterol screening | 81.4% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Colorectal cancer screening, ages 45 to 75 | 52.7% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
| Dental visit in the past year | 52.1% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
| Mammogram, women ages 50 to 74 | 73.4% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
Health Risk Behaviors
| Measure | Kern County | California | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking | 16.8% | 14.2% | 15.1% | 2023 |
| Current smoking | 14.6% | 8.5% | 12.1% | 2023 |
| No leisure-time physical activity | 31.9% | 22.9% | 24.5% | 2023 |
| Short sleep | 38.5% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
Health Status
| Measure | Kern County | California | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health | 28.1% | 20.8% | 18.5% | 2023 |
| Frequent mental distress | 20.0% | 14.7% | 15.4% | 2023 |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.1% | 12.2% | 12.6% | 2023 |
Disability
| Measure | Kern County | California | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability | 19.2% | 13.2% | 13.7% | 2023 |
| Any disability | 37.3% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Hearing disability | 6.5% | 5.4% | 7.4% | 2023 |
| Independent living disability | 10.6% | 7.3% | 7.8% | 2023 |
| Mobility disability | 17.3% | 12.5% | 13.4% | 2023 |
| Self-care disability | 5.2% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 2023 |
| Vision disability | 8.0% | 5.5% | 5.0% | 2023 |
Health-Related Social Needs
| Measure | Kern County | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support | 29.7% | 2023 |
| Food insecurity in the past year | 26.8% | 2023 |
| Received food stamps in the past year | 25.6% | 2023 |
| Housing insecurity in the past year | 21.7% | 2023 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past year | 13.7% | 2023 |
| Loneliness | 37.0% | 2023 |
| Utility shut-off threat in the past year | 11.7% | 2023 |
Source: CDC PLACES county data, as of December 4, 2025. Publisher page
Source: CDC BRFSS prevalence data, as of September 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Health professional shortage areas
HRSA, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, designates Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs): places, population groups, or facilities with too few primary care, mental health, or dental providers. An area designation covers a geographic area or a population group, such as low-income residents. A facility designation covers one site, such as a health center or clinic. Each has a score from 0 to 25 (0 to 26 for dental); a higher score means greater need.
HRSA lists 80 designated shortage rows in Kern County: primary care 29 (highest score 21), mental health 25 (highest score 24), and dental 26 (highest score 23). 22 cover a geographic area or population group; the other 58 are facility designations.
| Discipline | Area or population | Facility | Highest score |
|---|---|---|---|
| primary care | 9 | 20 | 21 |
| mental health | 4 | 21 | 24 |
| dental | 9 | 17 | 23 |
Area and population designations
| Designation | Discipline | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME/MSSA 66b- Bakersfield East/Lakeview/La Loma | dental | HPSA Population | 22 |
| LI MSSA 57.2-Taft | dental | HPSA Population | 20 |
| ME MSSA 60-Delano/McFarland | dental | HPSA Population | 20 |
| LI-MSSA 66a-Bakersfield Northeast/Oildale | primary care | HPSA Population | 18 |
| MSSA 65 - Boron/Rosamond | mental health | High Needs Geographic HPSA | 18 |
| LI MSSA 58.2-Lost Hills/Wasco | dental | HPSA Population | 18 |
| MSSA 66b - Bakersfield East | primary care | Geographic HPSA | 17 |
| HN - MSSA 62,63,64 - Tehachapi/Kernville/Ridgecrest | mental health | High Needs Geographic HPSA | 17 |
| LI - MSSA 66a-d/Bakersfield | mental health | HPSA Population | 17 |
| MSSA 58.1/58.2/60 - Shafter/Lost Hills/Wasco | mental health | Geographic HPSA | 17 |
| ME - MSSA 66c/Bakersfield Southwest | primary care | HPSA Population | 16 |
| MSSA 58.1/Shafter | primary care | High Needs Geographic HPSA | 16 |
| MSSA 58.2 - Lost Hills/Wasco | primary care | Geographic HPSA | 16 |
| LI MSSA 58.1-Shafter | dental | HPSA Population | 16 |
| MSSA 60 - Delano/McFarland | primary care | Geographic HPSA | 15 |
| MSSA 62/Tehachapi | primary care | Geographic HPSA | 15 |
| MSSA 63/Lake Isabella | primary care | Geographic HPSA | 15 |
| MSSA 64 - Ridgecrest | primary care | Geographic HPSA | 14 |
| ME-MSSA 66A/Bakersfield Northeast/Oilfield | dental | HPSA Population | 13 |
| ME/MSSA 66c-Bakersfield Southwest | dental | HPSA Population | 12 |
| MSSA 62-Tehachapi | dental | High Needs Geographic HPSA | 11 |
| MSSA 64 - Ridgecrest | dental | Geographic HPSA | 7 |
Facility designations (58)
| Designation | Discipline | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Correctional Institution | mental health | Correctional Facility | 24 |
| CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | dental | Federally Qualified Health Center | 23 |
| OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | dental | Federally Qualified Health Center | 23 |
| CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | primary care | Federally Qualified Health Center | 21 |
| OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | primary care | Federally Qualified Health Center | 21 |
| CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | mental health | Federally Qualified Health Center | 20 |
| OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | mental health | Federally Qualified Health Center | 20 |
| Bakersfield American Indian Health Project | dental | Indian Health Service, Tribal Health, and Urban Indian Health Organizations | 20 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW HEALTH CENTER | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 19 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 18 |
| Bakersfield American Indian Health Project | primary care | Indian Health Service, Tribal Health, and Urban Indian Health Organizations | 18 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN ARVIN MEDICAL CLINIC | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 18 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER WASCO | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 18 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW HEALTH CENTER | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 18 |
| VANGUARD MEDICAL CORPORATION | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 18 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | primary care | Federally Qualified Health Center Look A Like | 17 |
| SHAFTER RURAL HEALTH CARE CLINIC | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| VANGUARD MEDICAL CORPORATION | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| Bakersfield American Indian Health Project | mental health | Indian Health Service, Tribal Health, and Urban Indian Health Organizations | 17 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN ARVIN MEDICAL CLINIC | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER WASCO | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | mental health | Federally Qualified Health Center Look A Like | 17 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW HEALTH CENTER | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| SHAFTER RURAL HEALTH CARE CLINIC | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| SHYAM BHASKAR MD, INC | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| VANGUARD MEDICAL CORPORATION | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| VANGUARD MEDICAL CORPORATION | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| WEST SIDE FAMILY HEALTH CARE | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 17 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 16 |
| WEST SIDE FAMILY HEALTH CARE | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 16 |
| RIDGECREST REGIONAL HOSPITAL RURAL HEALTH CLINIC | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 16 |
| SOUTHERN SIERRA MEDICAL CLINIC | mental health | Rural Health Clinic | 16 |
| SHYAM BHASKAR MD, INC | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER WASCO | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | dental | Federally Qualified Health Center Look A Like | 15 |
| RIDGECREST REGIONAL HOSPITAL RURAL HEALTH CLINIC | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| SHAFTER RURAL HEALTH CARE CLINIC | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| SOUTHERN SIERRA MEDICAL CLINIC | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| VANGUARD MEDICAL CORPORATION | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 15 |
| RIDGECREST REGIONAL HOSPITAL RURAL HEALTH CLINIC | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 14 |
| SOUTHERN SIERRA MEDICAL CLINIC | primary care | Rural Health Clinic | 14 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH REEDLEY | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 13 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN ARVIN MEDICAL CLINIC | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 13 |
| SHYAM BHASKAR MD, INC | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 13 |
| VANGUARD MEDICAL CORPORATION | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 13 |
| WEST SIDE FAMILY HEALTH CARE | dental | Rural Health Clinic | 13 |
| CF-Kern Valley State Prison | primary care | Correctional Facility | 12 |
| CF-North Kern State Prison | mental health | Correctional Facility | 12 |
| California Correctional Institution | primary care | Correctional Facility | 9 |
| CF-Wasco State Prison | primary care | Correctional Facility | 6 |
| CF-Kern Valley State Prison | mental health | Correctional Facility | 6 |
| CF-Wasco State Prison | mental health | Correctional Facility | 6 |
In the Type column, a Geographic HPSA covers everyone in the area; a High Needs Geographic HPSA is a geographic designation that also meets HRSA's added tests for high need; and an HPSA Population designation covers one group of people in the area. In HRSA's designation names, LI means low-income residents, and ME means people eligible for Medicaid.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas, as of October 14, 2026. Publisher page
Hospitals and readmission rates
CMS Care Compare lists 9 acute care or critical access hospitals in Kern County, 3 of them critical access. The CMS file in this snapshot does not compare these rates with the national rate, so none is marked better or worse.
| Hospital | City | Stars | Heart failure | Pneumonia | COPD | Heart attack | Hip or knee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVENTIST HEALTH BAKERSFIELD | BAKERSFIELD | 2 | 20.7% | 18.5% | 18.5% | 13.9% | 6.6% |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH DELANO | DELANO | 2 | 21.5% | 17.1% | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH TEHACHAPI VALLEYCritical access | TEHACHAPI | 3 | 21.8% | 17.2% | 20.7% | n/a | n/a |
| BAKERSFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | BAKERSFIELD | 3 | 21.3% | 18.5% | 20.5% | 14.3% | 5.8% |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL, LP | BAKERSFIELD | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| KERN MEDICAL CENTER | BAKERSFIELD | 1 | 20.6% | 17.8% | 21.0% | n/a | n/a |
| KERN VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICTCritical access | LAKE ISABELLA | 3 | n/a | 17.5% | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| MERCY HOSPITAL | BAKERSFIELD | 3 | 20.7% | 18.8% | 20.3% | n/a | 5.6% |
| RIDGECREST REGIONAL HOSPITALCritical access | RIDGECREST | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Each rate is the share of patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge, July 2023 to June 2025. "n/a" means CMS did not publish a rate for that hospital.
Source: CMS Care Compare hospital general information, as of August 13, 2026. Publisher page
Source: CMS Care Compare unplanned hospital visits, as of September 30, 2026. Publisher page
Health centers
77 active health center sites in Kern County, run by 7 organizations.
| Site ↑ | Health center | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34th Street Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 2000 Physicians Blvd | Bakersfield 93301 |
| Arvin Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 1305 Bear Mountain Blvd | Arvin 93203 |
| BACHC East Kern Clinic | BARTZ-ALTADONNA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | 12560 Boron Ave | Boron 93516 |
| Baker Street Village Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 1015 Baker St, Unit 4 | Bakersfield 93305 |
| Brimhall Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 8307 Brimhall Rd, Suite 1702 | Bakersfield 93312 |
| Central Bakersfield Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 301 Brundage Ln | Bakersfield 93304 |
| Clinica Sierra Vista Corporate Headquarters | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 9525 Camino Media | Bakersfield 93311 |
| Community Health Centers of America McFarland Health Center | COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF AMERICA | 733 3rd St | Mc Farland 93250 |
| Comprehensive Care Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 625 34th St, Suite 100 | Bakersfield 93301 |
| Delano Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 1508 Garces Hwy STE 1 | Delano 93215 |
| Delano Walk In Clinic | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 425 Del Sol Pkwy | Delano 93215 |
| East Bakersfield Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 815 Dr Martin L King Jr Blvd | Bakersfield 93307 |
| East Bakersfield Dental Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 1125 E California Ave | Bakersfield 93307 |
| East Niles Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 7800 Niles St | Bakersfield 93306 |
| Family Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 1611 1st St | Bakersfield 93304 |
| Family HealthCare Network - Bakersfield Stockdale Hwy | FAMILY HEALTHCARE NETWORK | 9610 Stockdale Hwy, Unit C | Bakersfield 93311 |
| Family HealthCare Network - Delano | FAMILY HEALTHCARE NETWORK | 1230 Jefferson St | Delano 93215 |
| Frazier Mountain Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 704 Lebec Rd | Lebec 93243 |
| Greenfield Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 9001 S H St | Bakersfield 93307 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - 34th STREET | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 820 34th St, Suite 202 | Bakersfield 93301 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - COLUMBUS 1000 | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 1111 Columbus St, Suite 1000 | Bakersfield 93305 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - COLUMBUS 2000 | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 1111 Columbus St, Suite 2000 | Bakersfield 93305 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - COLUMBUS 3000 | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 1111 Columbus St, Suite 3000 | Bakersfield 93305 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - STOCKDALE 100 | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 9300 Stockdale Hwy, Suite 100 | Bakersfield 93311 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - STOCKDALE 400 | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 9330 Stockdale Hwy, #400 | Bakersfield 93311 |
| KERN MEDICAL OUTPATIENT HEALTH (KMOH) - STOCKDALE 500 | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 9330 Stockdale Hwy, #500 | Bakersfield 93311 |
| Kern Mobile Unit | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 301 Brundage Ln | Bakersfield 93304 |
| Kern River Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 67 Evans Rd | Wofford Heights 93285 |
| KMOH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - M STREET | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 2700 M St | Bakersfield 93301 |
| KMOH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - MT. VERNON | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 1700 Mount Vernon Ave | Bakersfield 93306 |
| KMOH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - OFFICE PARK | KERN COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY | 5101 Office Park Dr | Bakersfield 93309 |
| Lamont Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 8787 Hall Rd | Lamont 93241 |
| Lexington Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 325 S Lexington St | Delano 93215 |
| McFarland Community Health Center | CLINICA SIERRA VISTA | 217 W Kern Ave | Mc Farland 93250 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1001 Main St | Delano 93215 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1014 Calloway Dr BLDG F | Bakersfield 93312 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1022 Calloway Dr | Bakersfield 93312 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1100 4th St | Taft 93268 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1133 Chelsea St | Ridgecrest 93555 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1215 Jefferson St | Delano 93215 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1451 White Ln | Bakersfield 93307 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1507 Panama Ln STE 100G | Bakersfield 93307 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1507 Panama Ln | Bakersfield 93307 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 161 N Mill St | Tehachapi 93561 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 1701 Stine Rd | Bakersfield 93309 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 210 N Chester Ave | Bakersfield 93308 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 2101 7th St | Wasco 93280 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 2107 7th St | Wasco 93280 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 21138 Paso Robles Hwy | Lost Hills 93249 |
| Omni Family Health | OMNI FAMILY HEALTH | 2200 Panama Ln, Suite 101 | Bakersfield 93307 |
Source: HRSA health center service delivery and look-alike sites, as of October 14, 2026. Publisher page
California rural health plan
The California Rural Health Transformation Program will provide novel and innovative strategies to bring rural and frontier communities the resources and quality health care services that they need.
Initiatives, as the state's abstract names them (page 9):
- Rural Health Transformative Care Model
- Rural Health Workforce Development
- Rural Health Technology and Tools
CMS says the abstract budgets are illustrative and are not award amounts, so none are shown.
Source: CMS Rural Health Transformation Program state project abstracts, as of December 2025. Publisher page
Neighboring counties
Medicare plans in Kern County, CA
About this data
County rates are CDC PLACES model-based estimates of adults, built from the CDC BRFSS survey and Census population data. State and US figures are BRFSS survey results for the same year. They are not averages of counties, and small differences may not be meaningful.
Shortage rows are HRSA designations with status Designated. Scores run from 0 to 25 (0 to 26 for dental); a higher score means greater need. Hospitals are acute care and critical accesshospitals CMS lists in the county, with 30-day rates of unplanned readmission. Health centers are active HRSA-funded and look-alike sites.
Rural health plan initiatives are copied as the state wrote them. Nothing here is medical advice.
Source: CDC PLACES county data, as of December 4, 2025. Publisher page
Source: CDC BRFSS prevalence data, as of September 15, 2026. Publisher page
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas, as of October 14, 2026. Publisher page