Harnessing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to enable community-oriented primary care

Area of Science:

• Public Health Informatics
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Healthcare
• Primary Care Management

Background:

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly used in public health.
• Their application for clinical population management in primary care settings remains underexplored.
• Evaluating GIS utility for primary care leaders is crucial for optimizing services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of GIS for clinical population management in primary care.
• To assess the response of primary care leaders to GIS-generated analytic maps.
• To identify potential applications and barriers to GIS adoption in primary care.

Main Methods:

• Integrated clinical and census data using GIS in a primary care network.
• Generated distribution, service area, and population penetration maps.
• Conducted qualitative evaluations of leader and administrator responses to mapping.

Main Results:

• Mapping revealed discrepancies between actual service areas and funded underserved areas.
• Population penetration analyses identified utilization patterns.
• Qualitative feedback showed enthusiastic engagement, enhanced comprehension, and new revenue ideas, but also highlighted barriers like cost and expertise.

Conclusions:

• Analytic mapping was well-received and practically applied in primary care settings.
• GIS offers innovative applications for primary care, especially with safety-net expansion and health IT funding.
• Overcoming cost and technical hurdles through web-based mapping technology is essential for broader GIS implementation.