Using the Fusion Proximal Area Method and Gravity Method to Identify Areas with Physician Shortages.
OBJECTIVE
This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based proximal area method and gravity method for identifying areas with physician shortages. The innovation of this paper is that it uses the appropriate methods to discover each type of health resource and then integrates all these methods to assess spatial access to health resources using population distribution data. In this way, spatial access to health resources for an entire city can be visualized in one neat package, which can help health policy makers quickly comprehend realistic distributions of health resources at a macro level.


METHODS
First, classify health resources according to the trade areas of the patients they serve. Second, apply an appropriate method to each different type of health resource to measure spatial access to those resources. Third, integrate all types of access using population distribution data.


RESULTS
In case study of Shanghai with the fusion method, areas with physician shortages are located primarily in suburban districts, especially in district junction areas. The result suggests that the government of Shanghai should pay more attention to these areas by investing in new or relocating existing health resources.


CONCLUSIONS
The fusion method is demonstrated to be more accurate and practicable than using a single method to assess spatial access to health resources.
Collaborative Innovation Center of Health Risks Governance, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Xuechen
X
Xiong
Collaborative Innovation Center of Health Risks Governance, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Chao
C
Jin
Collaborative Innovation Center of Health Risks Governance, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Haile
H
Chen
Collaborative Innovation Center of Health Risks Governance, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Li
L
Luo
D002681:China; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006112:Gravitation; D006295:Health Resources; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D010820:Physicians
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