Recorded presentation

Karen L. Courtney, RN, MSN, Dept. of Health Management & Informatics, University of Missouri - Columbia, 324 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, 573-882-1625, Karen.Courtney@mizzou.edu

The purpose of this project was to explore the utility of geographic information systems (GIS) in policy evaluation. The application of GIS to health services research has been increasing in the last decade. The existing health services GIS literature, although focused on health care access and service utilization, suggests GIS as a useful tool for policy evaluation when location is an important factor in policy success. As GIS has not been applied to this specific area in the past, the use of historical data to validate conclusions as a first step is appropriate. Location is critical in measuring the effect of nursing recruitment and retention policies on nursing workforce distribution. Nursing shortages present serious concerns for local, state and federal governments due to the negative impact on their constituencies. There is a need on a local and state level to have tools that will accurately express current local conditions and predict future local outcomes. Following IRB approval, the following data sources were incorporated for spatial analysis into a geodatabase using ArcGIS 8.3: Missouri county data, Missouri HPSA designations by county 1991-2001, Missouri RN Professional licensure data 1991 – 2001, and Missouri RN training programs. The results suggest that current policy definitions of underserved areas may not be effective in defining areas of nursing shortages and the existing policy implementation may not be achieving the desired effects.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify components of GIS applicable to policy evaluation studies
• Articulate GIS data requirements

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Nurses

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation