Thanks to the advancements in geographic information systems (GIS)
technologies and mapping applications like ArcGIS, health organizations
worldwide are mapping disease and sickness trends in an effort to treat
them locally and globally.
GIS tools and ArcGIS mapping applications play an important role in
developing data-driven solutions that help health organizations
visualize, analyze, interpret and present complex geo-location data.
The World Health Organization maintains an updated influenza map that
shows Asia and Africa are at greater risk the spread of flu. Other
organizations such as Health-mapping.com keep up-to-the-minute
data-filled maps that cover water and health, influenza and malaria.
One map keeps water-related infectious diseases in the WHO European
Region, focusing on the visualization of pan-European and worldwide
water-related disease data that comes from centralized information
system for infectious diseases (CISID) database. The map covers
HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria and
several other diseases.
Then there’s HealthMap.org, which was founded in 2006 to use online sources to help with disease outbreak monitoring.
Created by epidemiologists and software developers at Children’s
Hospital Boston, the freely available website and mobile app ‘Outbreaks
Near Me’ deliver real-time intelligence on a broad range of emerging
infectious diseases for a diverse audience including libraries, local
health departments, governments and international travelers.
HealthMap brings together disparate data sources, including online news
aggregators, eyewitness reports, expert-curated discussions and
validated official reports, to achieve a unified and comprehensive view
of the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on
human and animal health.
Through an automated process, updating 24/7/365, the system monitors,
organizes, integrates, filters, visualizes and disseminates online
information about emerging diseases in nine languages, facilitating
early detection of global public health threats.
For example, HealthMap.org recently released a report that several
Massachusetts swans tested positive for low-path avian influenza or bird
flu. Although the report indicated there is no threat to human health,
this latest finding is just an example of how GIS can help save lives in
the case of an outbreak.
“The real focus is identifying and focusing surveillance in hotspots
around the world where we have potential for risk of a new disease that
potentially might cause a pandemic worldwide,” said John Brownstein,
co-founder of HealthMap.org and assistant professor of pediatrics at
Harvard Medical School.
Maps are also tracking obesity and diabetes. CDC data and mapping
indicates 644 counties in 15 states represent most of the country’s type
two diabetes cases. This has been called the “Diabetes Belt,” which
spans from Appalachia into the Deep South. Data also shows that a few
counties in Michigan also have higher rates, as well as some regions in
the West.
Meanwhile, Esri, an international geographic technology firm whose
software is used by more than 350,000 organizations worldwide, has a GIS
for Health & Human Services division that helps public health
organizations and hospitals alike. Hospitals use ArcGIS for accurate and
relevant patient information as well as for marketing, planning and
community relations.
For example, the University of Kentucky Trauma Center, called UK
Chandler Hospital used a customized GIS application to boost analyze
data.
“We built the custom ArcGIS Server application using the Flex API to
maximize accessibility and ease of use,” said Chris Walls, cofounder of
39°N, the firm that built the platform for UK. “We are extremely proud
of this cutting-edge collaboration with the University of Kentucky. This
kind of application will significantly streamline the administration of
public facilities.”
GIS technology and ArcGIS offers tremendous potential to benefit the
health care industry and its many uses are just now beginning to be
realized. The need for GIS professionals who are proficient using ArcGIS
will be even greater as organizations develop innovative ways to
harness the data integration and spatial visualization power of GIS.
“The philosophy of American Sentinel’s bachelor’s in GIS curriculum is
to prepare students for real workplace issues and challenges using
state-of-the-art, industry leading software products such as Esri’s
ArcGIS and open source technologies,” says Devon Cancilla, Ph.D., dean,
business and technology at American Sentinel University.
Dr. Cancilla believes it’s important to empower students with a current
and applicable GIS skill set such as using ArcGIS, so students can
apply relevant knowledge on the job while use real-improving their
career trajectory.
Learn More About American Sentinel University’s GIS and Health Care
Degrees American Sentinel’s programs prepare students for entry into the
GIS field and provide training in information systems that benefit
other business areas. Learn more about American Sentinel University’s
GIS degrees at http://www.americansentinel.edu/online-degree/bachelor-degree-online/bachelor-gis-degree.php.
About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers the competitive advantages of
accredited Associate, Bachelor's and Master's online degree programs
focused on the needs of high-growth sectors, including information
technology, computer science, GIS, computer information systems and
business intelligence degrees. The university is accredited by the
Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is listed by the
U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting
agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation
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