The use of medical informatics as a management tool for community health services during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War.
BACKGROUND
During war the health management organizations have tremendous difficulty monitoring members' needs according to geographic spread.


OBJECTIVE
To describe how an HMO used its health information technology in a way that enables its management to receive updated online information on the needs of the insured, according to their distribution throughout the country during the time of the war in Lebanon in July-August 2006.


METHODS
Data were derived from the computerized medical records of Maccabi Healthcare Services--the second largest HMO in Israel, providing care to more than 1.7 million members nationwide. Data on healthcare utilization by northern members were compared to the geographic distribution of clinics.


RESULTS
The war was characterized by the massive evacuation of citizens southwards. During this period there was an abrupt decline in the utilization of medical services by northern members in the northern region. This decline returned to normal 10 days after the ceasefire. A reciprocal increase was noted in the use of health services by citizens from the north in other regions. This increase returned to normal after the war. No such pattern was noticed during the same period in 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
Real-time surveillance of trends in consumption of health services by citizens in times of regular daily living as well as during emergencies and wars is a vital management tool for medical directors responsible for providing health services.
Kokia
Ehud S
ES
Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. kokia_e@mac.org.il
Marom
Rachel
R
Shalev
Varda
V
Jan
Yossef
Y
Shemer
Joshua
J
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003199:Computer Systems; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005843:Geography; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007861:Lebanon; D008490:Medical Informatics; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000600:supply & distribution; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009862:Online Systems; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012036:Refugees; D014857:Warfare