Turns out the universal principal of real estate: location, location, location -- also holds true when it comes to health and life expectancy.
Executive Director, CVHPI, Dr. John Capitman said, "We found that in some communities one or two people per one-hundred die before 65 -- but in others as many as twenty."
A 10-year study by the Central Valley Health Policy Institute found dramatic inequality in the quality of people's lives -- depending on where they live. Poverty is one of the major factors.
"Where poor people live also turns out to be where schools aren't so good, where water isn't so good, where air isn't so good," said Dr. Capitman.
Findings of the report were revealed Wednesday at a forum titled "Place Matters" ... that brought together leaders in air and water quality, health, and affordable housing.
The study identified zip codes facing the most challenges -- like 93706 in Southwest Fresno. The area lacks sufficient green space conducive to physical activity. Has only one major grocery store and is plagued with high unemployment.
Keith Kelley said, "That was good to know where were are so that we can move forward and then we can find ways in which we can change that paradigm."
The study also found poorer more heavily immigrant communities have a much larger rate of "avoidable" hospitalizations.
"Poor people are more engaged in income gathering ... they have a lot of work to do and so they tend to put off going in, even if they know there's a doctor they can go to ... 'I'm not sick enough -- not sick enough' until literally people will collapse," said Kevin Hamilton.
Institute Director John Capitman says the solution to this inequity problem may come about through collaboration.
"What we're advocating is that the groups working on various problems come out of their silos and work together," said Dr. Capitman.
The study focuses on the eight county region of the San Joaquin Valley.
