Undoubtedly, technological advances and evolvements have created a notable impact in the medical world. Improvements range from those that advance the well-being of patients to those that extend their lifespan. Perhaps one impressive technology that has emerged onto the picture is to address geographical links to illnesses or diseases more efficiently: geographic information systems, or GIS. GIS is transforming the way sanitariums, healthcare facilities, dispensaries & hospitals manage their assets, serve their residents and make community decisions.
GIS technology is sophisticated mapping software that visually facilitates users to visualize input data related to a designated project. Displaying visual data empowers end-users to recognize geographical groupings of patient demographic data differently. Besides, the program also lets users run analytical tests and find out ‘what if’ questions that can arise due to direct or indirect changes. Here are potential profits of integrating GIS in the healthcare domain:
How is Integration of Geographical Information System in Healthcare Domain Advantageous?
Distinguishing Health Trends
GIS technology helps healthcare professionals identify health-related trends and thoroughly target healing efforts on the basis of those attained results. GIS can be used in many different initiatives, including the Cancer Surveillance Program to assess the demographic data. Address, workplace, cancer type, and even information gathered from wearable health tech of all patients can be accumulated. Healthcare professionals then georeference and map the data accumulated to visualize the locations of patients.
A Geographic Information System helps ascertain if clusters of particular disease types are associated with similar working or residential areas. GIS may present a means to healthcare professionals so that they systematically address where some diseases are likely to or already have become widespread. Professionals can begin to proactively implement preventative plans or bring on-board healthcare experts skilled in specific medical practices to stop the disease breakout.
Tracing the Outbreak of Infectious Disease
The purpose of geographic information systems is not restricted to tracking occurrences of diseases. But, its most powerful aspect is its micro-location capabilities, the ability to use geography as well as other inputs to distinguish where diseases are most prone to spread next. This data is inherent to on-the-ground personnel struggling to save lives since it empowers them to prepare in advance for a disease and can limit the impact to a great extent.
Moreover, the maps can play a meaningful role in managing disease outbreaks. Furthermore, hospitals can employ hospitals to gain a better insight into vaccination rates and regulations in various counties throughout the U.S. to ascertain which areas could be hit severely by the outbreak.
Assists Inventory Management
GIS (Geographic Information System)= Map + Spreadsheet + Software
Geographic – Location of an asset or inventory of hospitals
Information – Characteristics of an asset/ inventory
System – A software that provides a connection between the mapping and the data.
Geographic Information System is the backbone employed to develop applications for refining operations and data mining. GIS is applied to schedule, track and archive all activities as well as costs. Moreover, this technology can be used to keep track, maintenance and rehabilitation work orders, condition inspection schedules, monitoring programs.
Adequately informed decision making
When you have large access to information, it enables more informed decisions. Knowing the disease or type of disease, for example, can help define the schedule and scope of a possible treatment to be offered so that the professionals can save the patient's life.
Improved communication
GIS-based maps and visualizations considerably support knowing and analyzing the situations and storytelling. They are a unique expression that promotes communication among diverse teams, departments, systems, expert fields, businesses, and the public.
Developing Services
GIS technology can facilitate community leaders and developers to run more closely with hospitals to address national healthcare needs. GIS also identifies which neighborhoods are in a significant shortage of specific health services. Patient demographic data analysis better answer these questions.
To Wrap Up
GIS is a powerful tool due to its micro-location capabilities. GIS must be successfully implemented to help address several requisite health problems varying from disease management to improved services. As more and more healthcare professionals in the U.S. have begun to embrace and integrate GIS technology, the amount of advantages is anticipated to scale up, including the connectivity within healthcare facilities and the communities they serve. Have you considered applying the power of GIS till now? Not yet, then call us at SmartPoint to discuss how GIS can make a difference.