Leveraging geographic information systems in an integrated health care delivery organization.
A handful of the many changes resulting from the Affordable Care Act underscore the need for a geographic understanding of existing and prospective member communities. Health exchanges require that health provider networks are geographically accessible to underserved populations, and nonprofit hospitals nationwide are required to conduct community health needs assessments every three years. Beyond these requirements, health care providers are using maps and spatial analysis to better address health outcomes that are related in complex ways to social and economic factors.Kaiser Permanente is applying geographic information systems, with spatial analytics and map-based visualizations, to data sourced from its electronic medical records and from publicly and commercially available datasets. The results are helping to shape an understanding of the health needs of Kaiser Permanente members in the context of their communities. This understanding is part of a strategy to inform partnerships and interventions in and beyond traditional care delivery settings.
Health Data Project Lead for the Kaiser Permanente Utility for Care Data Analysis Department in Portland, OR. kathryn.m.clift@kp.org.
Kathryn
K
Clift
Analytical Project Lead for the Kaiser Permanente Utility for Care Data Analysis Department in Portland, OR. luther.b.scott@kp.org.
Luther
L
Scott
Director of the Kaiser Permanente Utility for Care Data Analysis Department in Portland, OR. michael.s.johnson@kp.org.
Michael
M
Johnson
Health Data Analyst for the Kaiser Permanente Utility for Care Data Analysis Department in Portland, OR. carlos.gonzalez@kp.org.
Carlos
C
Gonzalez
D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D012111:Residence Characteristics