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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Andrew W. Bazemore, MD, MPH, Robert Graham center, 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 201, Washington, DC 20036, 202-331-3360, bphillips@aafp.org

Background: Geographic information systems (GIS) offer an valuable instrument for federally-qualified health centers(FQHCs) to conduct community health planning and evaluation. However, our research has shown that cost and expertise in the use of GIS software limits such use. We review the development of a customizable data delivery instrument tailored to integrate FQHC clinical data and available population data in a secure, easy to use web interface. Methods: With the assistance and advice of national membership organizations, administrators, and clinicians representing FQHCs, we developed use cases to define our scope of work. Our instrument requirements included the capacity to upload and geocode formatted FQHC clinical data. This would then need to be presented in a secure web-based interface in combination with public health and population data ready for thematic mapping, by users with no previous training in mapping and data manipulation. Through subsequent requirements, design, and beta-testing phases we will refine this instrument into a publicly-available product available for use by FQHC's nationally. Results: This is a work in progress, scheduled for rollout in June 2006. In the session, we will summarize the steps involved in developing this tool, as well as the qualitative evaluation of beta-testing and rollout. Conclusions: This internet-based product offers FQHC users a means to convert otherwise dormant clinical and population data into a powerful and visually-compelling format for health care and community health planning. Aggregate analytic maps will enhance the capacity of regional policy-makers to make informed decisions in the allocation of scarce safety net resources.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)At the completion of the presentation, attendees will understand the process by which an internet-based mapping instrument can be developed for use in community planning by community health centers.
• 2)At the completion of the presentation, attendees will be able to describe the functions and capacity of a new online resource for community health planning by community health centers.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Health Centers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered