Geographic information systems (GIS): an emerging method to assess demand and provision for rehabilitation services. (24th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Passalent, Laura; Borsy, Emily; Landry, Michel D.; Cott, Cheryl
• Is Part Of: Disability and rehabilitation. Volume 35:Number 20(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1740
• Page End: 1749
• Publication Date: 2013-01-24
• Subjects: Access to care -- community rehabilitation -- geographic information systems -- policy planning; People with disabilities -- Periodicals; Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2012.750690
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8288

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose : To illustrate the application of geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to assess rehabilitation service delivery by presenting results from research recently conducted to assess demand and provision for community rehabilitation service delivery in Ontario, Canada. Methods : Secondary analysis of data obtained from existing sources was used to establish demand and provision profiles for community rehabilitation services. These data were integrated using GIS software. Results : A number of descriptive maps were produced that show the geographical distribution of service provision variables (location of individual rehabilitation health care providers and location of private and publicly funded community rehabilitation clinics) in relation to the distribution of demand variables (location of the general population; location of specific populations (i.e. residents age 65 and older) and distribution of household income). Conclusions : GIS provides a set of tools for describing and understanding the spatial organization of the health of populations and the distribution of health services that can aid the development of health policy and answer key research questions with respect to rehabilitation health services delivery. Implications for Rehabilitation: It is important to seek out alternative and innovative methods to examine rehabilitation service delivery. GIS is a computer-based program that takes any data linked to a geographically referenced location and processes it through a software system that manages, analyses and displays the data in the form of a map, allowing for an alternative level of analysis. GIS provides a set of tools for describing and understanding the spatial organization of population health and health services that can aid the development of health policy and answer key research questions with respect to rehabilitation health services delivery.