About the San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley comprises eight counties, including Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties. With 62 cities and more than 3.4 million residents, the Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in California, but is seriously medically underserved.
- The region has fewer primary care physicians than the rest of California and even fewer specialists.
- Socio-economic disparities are prevalent, creating even greater barriers to health care access.
- The Valley has a higher incidence of health problems compared to other regions of the state.
- Millions of dollars are lost each year from the local economy as Valley residents with health insurance seek care outside of the region.
