Abstract
Background: Our practice-based research network (PBRN) is conducting an outreach intervention to increase health insurance coverage for patients seen in the network. To assist with outreach site selection, we sought an understandable way to use electronic health record (EHR) data to locate uninsured patients.
Methods: Health insurance information was displayed within a web-based mapping platform to demonstrate the feasibility of using geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize EHR data. This study used EHR data from 52 clinics in the OCHIN PBRN. We included cross-sectional coverage data for patients aged 0 to 64 years with at least 1 visit to a study clinic during 2011 (n + 228, 284).
Results: Our PBRN was successful in using GIS to identify intervention sites. Through use of the maps, we found geographic variation in insurance rates of patients seeking care in OCHIN PBRN clinics. Insurance rates also varied by age: The percentage of adults without insurance ranged from 13. 2% to 86. 8%; rates of children lacking insurance ranged from 1. 1% to 71. 7%. GIS also showed some areas of households with median incomes that had low insurance rates.
Discussion: EHR data can be imported into a web-based GIS mapping tool to visualize patient information. Using EHR data, we were able to observe smaller areas than could be seen using only publicly available data. Using this information, we identified appropriate OCHIN PBRN clinics for dissemination of an EHR-based insurance outreach intervention. GIS could also be used by clinics to visualize other patient-level characteristics to target clinic outreach efforts or interventions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 804-810 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2014 |
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Keywords
- Electronic medical records
- Geographic information systems
- Health insurance
- Practice-based research
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Family Practice
Cite this
Using geographic information systems (GIS) to identify communities in need of health insurance outreach : An OCHIN practice-based research network (PBRN) report. / Angier, Heather; Likumahuwa, Sonja; Finnegan, Sean; Vakarcs, Trisha; Nelson, Christine; Bazemore, Andrew; Carrozza, Mark; Devoe, Jennifer.
In: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, Vol. 27, No. 6, 01.11.2014, p. 804-810.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Using geographic information systems (GIS) to identify communities in need of health insurance outreach
T2 - An OCHIN practice-based research network (PBRN) report
AU - Angier, Heather
AU - Likumahuwa, Sonja
AU - Finnegan, Sean
AU - Vakarcs, Trisha
AU - Nelson, Christine
AU - Bazemore, Andrew
AU - Carrozza, Mark
AU - Devoe, Jennifer
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - Background: Our practice-based research network (PBRN) is conducting an outreach intervention to increase health insurance coverage for patients seen in the network. To assist with outreach site selection, we sought an understandable way to use electronic health record (EHR) data to locate uninsured patients.Methods: Health insurance information was displayed within a web-based mapping platform to demonstrate the feasibility of using geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize EHR data. This study used EHR data from 52 clinics in the OCHIN PBRN. We included cross-sectional coverage data for patients aged 0 to 64 years with at least 1 visit to a study clinic during 2011 (n + 228, 284).Results: Our PBRN was successful in using GIS to identify intervention sites. Through use of the maps, we found geographic variation in insurance rates of patients seeking care in OCHIN PBRN clinics. Insurance rates also varied by age: The percentage of adults without insurance ranged from 13. 2% to 86. 8%; rates of children lacking insurance ranged from 1. 1% to 71. 7%. GIS also showed some areas of households with median incomes that had low insurance rates.Discussion: EHR data can be imported into a web-based GIS mapping tool to visualize patient information. Using EHR data, we were able to observe smaller areas than could be seen using only publicly available data. Using this information, we identified appropriate OCHIN PBRN clinics for dissemination of an EHR-based insurance outreach intervention. GIS could also be used by clinics to visualize other patient-level characteristics to target clinic outreach efforts or interventions.
AB - Background: Our practice-based research network (PBRN) is conducting an outreach intervention to increase health insurance coverage for patients seen in the network. To assist with outreach site selection, we sought an understandable way to use electronic health record (EHR) data to locate uninsured patients.Methods: Health insurance information was displayed within a web-based mapping platform to demonstrate the feasibility of using geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize EHR data. This study used EHR data from 52 clinics in the OCHIN PBRN. We included cross-sectional coverage data for patients aged 0 to 64 years with at least 1 visit to a study clinic during 2011 (n + 228, 284).Results: Our PBRN was successful in using GIS to identify intervention sites. Through use of the maps, we found geographic variation in insurance rates of patients seeking care in OCHIN PBRN clinics. Insurance rates also varied by age: The percentage of adults without insurance ranged from 13. 2% to 86. 8%; rates of children lacking insurance ranged from 1. 1% to 71. 7%. GIS also showed some areas of households with median incomes that had low insurance rates.Discussion: EHR data can be imported into a web-based GIS mapping tool to visualize patient information. Using EHR data, we were able to observe smaller areas than could be seen using only publicly available data. Using this information, we identified appropriate OCHIN PBRN clinics for dissemination of an EHR-based insurance outreach intervention. GIS could also be used by clinics to visualize other patient-level characteristics to target clinic outreach efforts or interventions.
KW - Electronic medical records
KW - Geographic information systems
KW - Health insurance
KW - Practice-based research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84910678236&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84910678236&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3122/jabfm.2014.06.140029
DO - 10.3122/jabfm.2014.06.140029
M3 - Article
VL - 27
SP - 804
EP - 810
JO - Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
JF - Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
SN - 1557-2625
IS - 6
ER -