Greater Baltimore has 352 physicians per 100,000 population, ranking the region 3rd among the 20 metros. Only Boston and Raleigh-Durham have a higher number. Greater Baltimore, however, ranked second only to Boston in the 1998 State of the Region Report for this category.

Greater Baltimore has 335 hospital beds per 100,000 population, ranking the region 8th among the 20 metros. Boston and Cleveland have the most beds, while Austin and Portland have the fewest.

The infant mortality rate has declined dramatically from 1989 to 1996. Baltimore's rate dropped from 9.7 percent to only 2.5 percent, ranking the region 11th among the 20 metros compared. The lowest rates were in Atlanta and Boston, while the highest rates were in San Diego and Cleveland.

HEALTH CARE CHARTS

• Health Care Cost, 1997 and 1999
• Physicians, 1998
• Hospital Beds, 1998
• Infant Mortality Rate, 1996 vs. 1989-1991
• Number of Cardiology Hospitals in the Top 40, 1997 and 1999
• Number of Cancer Hospitals in the Top 40, 1997 and 1999
• Cancer Death Rates, 1992 and 1996