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Chapter 71
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-2038-4.ch071
INTRODUCTION
The increasing demand for health data analysis in
spatial and temporal scale has made emerging tech-
nologies such as Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) an essential tool for healthcare information
systems. In healthcare settings application of such
new technology are proving useful in the analysis
of health data and planning of healthcare services
(Pfeiffer, Robinson, Stevenson, Stevens, Rogers,
& Clements, 2008). The ability of GIS to manage
and retrieve georeference data has demonstrated
its value in the integration of complex epidemio-
Joseph M. Woodside
Cleveland State University, USA
Iftikhar U. Sikder
Cleveland State University, USA
GIS Application of Healthcare
Data for Advancing
Epidemiological Studies
ABSTRACT
Healthcare practices increasingly rely on advanced technologies to improve analysis capabilities for
decision making. In particular, spatial epidemiological approach to healthcare studies provides signif-
cant insight in evaluating health intervention and decisions through Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) applications. This chapter illustrates a space-time cluster analysis using Kulldorff’s Scan Statistics
(1999), local indicators of spatial autocorrelation, and local G-statistics involving routine clinical
service data as part of a limited data set collected by a Northeast Ohio healthcare organization over a
period 1994 – 2006. The objective is to fnd excess space and space-time variations of lung cancer and
to identify potential monitoring and healthcare management capabilities. The results were compared
with earlier research (Tyczynski & Berkel, 2005); similarities were noted in patient demographics for
the targeted study area. The fndings also provide evidence that diagnosis data collected as a result of
rendered health services can be used in detecting potential disease patterns and/or utilization patterns,
with the overall objective of improving health outcomes.