A Place to Stay: Building a Centralized Public Map of Lodging Resources for Patients and Caregivers Traveling for...

Access to specialized health care often requires patients and caregivers to travel long distances, imposing logistical and financial burdens. Temporary lodging near hospitals is essential for health care access, yet information is fragmented, forcing patients and caregivers to search across multiple websites to see all options available. We conducted a cross-sectional review (April 2023-May 2024) of publicly available data, cataloging US organizations that offer temporary lodging near health care facilities. We geocoded and integrated data into the Healthcare Housing Navigator, an interactive map built with ArcGIS Experience Builder. Our review identified 510 lodging organizations. The tool uses geographic information systems for interactive filtering and displays key details, such as organization name, location, cost, and eligibility criteria. By centralizing fragmented information on medical lodging, the Healthcare Housing Navigator addresses an overlooked health-related social need and equips patients, caregivers, and care teams with timely, accessible information.