POCONOS – Pike is the sixth healthiest county in all of Pennsylvania, according to a study released by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  Not faring so well, were Monroe County, ranking 46th, and Wayne County, near the bottom at 62nd out of 67 counties.

Pike is the only of the three counties without a full hospital in the county.  There are, however, several facilities that provide health services and some are associated with hospitals in neighboring counties.

The study, however, looks at many factors other than specific services.  Taken into account are mortality rates, social and economic conditions, environment, and personal behavior, including obesity and smoking.

The top five counties in the state, in order, are: Chester, Centre, Union, Snyder, Montgomery.