Yuma, Arizona Pediatric Oncology Capacity Needs Assessment

Yuma County, a primarily agricultural community on the border of Mexico and Arizona, has been deemed a “medical island surrounded by a sea of sand.”17 Yuma, Arizona consists of over 200,000 people, with an additional 80,000 to 100,000 winter visitors.17 An extra 41,000 farm workers from California and 50,000 Mexicans on work visas travel to Yuma during the winter harvest season.17 Additionally, approximately 20% of residents live below the poverty line and 60% of the population is Hispanic in 2016.17 Unemployment in Yuma is also 50% higher than the national average, and has a 20% unemployment rate in 2016.17 Because these statistics are higher than the state and national averages, the Department of Health and Human Services have declared Yuma County as a “high needs area.”17 For all of these residents in Yuma County, Yuma Regional Medical Center is the sole healthcare provider.