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Using geographic information system (GIS) technology to evaluate a hospital-based mobile blood donation program
Kristen N Ruby1,2, Walter H Dzik2, Julia J Collins2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping identified untapped blood drive locations, revealing new opportunities for blood collection centers. This technology helps optimize mobile blood drives for increased donations.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Public Health Informatics
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Background:
- Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is underutilized in transfusion medicine.
- This study explores GIS application for analyzing blood drive activity patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of GIS software in mapping and analyzing blood drive operations.
- To identify underutilized geographic areas for mobile blood drives.
Main Methods:
- A 3-year retrospective study of mobile blood drives was conducted.
- Esri ArcGIS Pro™ and ArcGIS Online™ were used to create town-level activity maps.
Main Results:
- 16,900 mobile whole blood donations occurred between 2021-2023.
- 17 towns within a 15-mile radius were never visited, representing significant donation opportunities.
- 33 additional Massachusetts towns with potential were identified.
Conclusions:
- GIS mapping effectively identifies successful past donation sites and unvisited locations.
- ArcGIS analysis tools can optimize future mobile blood drive planning for blood collection centers.
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