Abstract
Supporting Healthcare Systems Planning with a GIS Web Portal
Track: Health and Human Services
Author(s): Duane Flemming
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the nation’s largest integrated health care system with nearly 1,200 facilities. and serving over eight million enrolled veterans. Facility planning is done by professionals at 21 regional offices in consultation with facility staff members. VHA has developed an ArcIMS web portal that allows planners and facility staff to visualize their current point locations in relation to enrollee residential density. Facility locations are rendered with estimated travel time bands representing VHA guidelines for access to care. This reveals spatial gaps and areas of overlapping service that may suggest locations for new facilities or opportunities to decommission existing facilities. Enhancements underway will allow planners to model the impact on accessibility if facilities are added or decommissioned in locations of their choosing, and to see locations of non-VHA facilities. The latter may suggest opportunities to contract out services in lieu of building new facilities.
Duane Flemming
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
3154 Juniper Lane
Falls Church , Virginia 22044-1814
United States
Phone: 703-402-6489
E-mail: duane.flemming@va.gov