A spatial decision support tool for estimating population catchments to aid rural and remote health service allocation planning

作者：Schuurman Nadine^*; Randall Ellen; Berube Myriam

来源：Health Informatics Journal, 2011, 17(4): 277-293.

DOI：10.1177/1460458211409806

• GIS
• healthcare rationing
• health service allocation
• informed decision-making
• spatial decision support systems
• webGUI

There is mounting pressure on healthcare planners to manage and contain costs. In rural regions, there is a particular need to rationalize health service allocation to ensure the best possible coverage for a dispersed population. Rural health administrators need to be able to quantify the population affected by their allocation decisions and, therefore, need the capacity to incorporate spatial analyses into their decision-making process. Spatial decision support systems (SDSS) can provide this capability. In this article, we combine geographical information systems (GIS) with a web-based graphical user interface (webGUI) in a SDSS tool that enables rural decision-makers charged with service allocation, to estimate population catchments around specific health services in rural and remote areas. Using this tool, health-care planners can model multiple scenarios to determine the optimal location for health services, as well as the number of people served in each instance.

• 出版日期2011-12