title: The impact of a clinic move on vulnerable patients with chronic disease: a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changing locations disrupts the populations served by primary health care clinics, and such changes may differentially affect access to care for vulnerable populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online geographic information systems mapping tools were used to define how the relocation of a family medicine center impacted access to care for black and Hispanic patients with chronic disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maps created from practice management data revealed a distinct shift in black and Hispanic patients with chronic disease being served in the new location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geographic information systems tools are valuable aids in defining changing service areas of primary health care clinics.
authors.affiliation: Robert Graham Center, Washington, DC, USA. ABazemore@aafp.org
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazemore
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diller
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrozza
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006274:Health Facility Moving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009820:Ohio; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American