Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104090

Peter Nalin, MD, FAAFP, School of Medicine/ Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University, 1110 W. Michigan, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Terrell W. Zollinger, DrPH, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University, 1110 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Michael J. Przybylski, PhD, Bowen Research Center, Indiana University, 1110 W. Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Ruth Ann Hendrix, MPH, School of Medicine/ Department of Public Health, Indiana University, 1050 Wishard Blvd. RG4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202-2872, 317.278.0337, rahendri@iupui.edu, and Jeffrey S. Wilson, PhD, Geography, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 317 Cavanaugh Hall, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

The use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can give public health specialists a spatial epidemiologic glimpse of patient health. This spatial descriptive statistical study describes aspects of a patient population in a family practice residency clinic in an urban Midwestern setting. GIS analysis offers physicians a broader perspective of their patient population and provides public health practitioners and others with evidence-based data on which to base future decisions concerning public health practice and policy.

The objective was to use existing demographic data, (such as gender, age, and race), gathered through the electronic patient records and other information systems, in order to gain more information on diseases such as asthma, type II diabetes and depression. Diagnosis, the body mass index (BMI), payment/ insurance source, and other data was also gathered on the 6845 patients who visited the family practice center located in a medically underserved area. This preliminary study using ArcMap 9.0 offers physicians a broader perspective of their patient population utilizing spatial descriptive statistics and serves as a link to the Health People 2010 objectives for the nation.

The Health People 2010 objectives included in this study are #5 diabetes, #18 mental health, #19 nutrition and overweight and #24 respiratory diseases. Developing strategies and action plans to address these objectives will have an effect on increasing the quality of life and years of health life for the community. The use of GIS can give public health specialists a spatial epidemiologic glimpse of patient health for evidence-based policy and practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the value of this GIS method for local use in evidence-based policy and practice.
• Classify the three elements necessary for developing GIS analysis.
• Identify three Healthy People 2010 objectives and know the patient’s population status in regard to these objectives.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Urban Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation