Mapping Injury Prevention With Microsoft Excel

Level I trauma centers must conduct injury prevention activities within their communities, despite limited resources available to them. To direct resources where they are most needed, injury prevention personnel at our trauma center use a novel method employing standard computer software. Although this method can be applied toward any injury population and prevention program, the example of targeting elderly falls prevention with A Matter of Balance classes is provided.

To share an innovative, yet efficient, technique to direct injury prevention efforts using Microsoft Excel map charts.

Using fictitious trauma registry data, an elderly falls rate is computed for each zip code. The top falls areas are then compared visually with areas where A Matter of Balance classes were conducted using Microsoft Excel map charts.

Disparate areas of outreach, as well as areas where resources are inefficiently utilized, present in a manner that is easily recognized and communicated.

Microsoft Excel map charts provide an effective and efficient means of displaying areas of greatest need, assessing disparities between those needs and outreach efforts that were conducted, and communicating with leadership.