Design and implementation of a Geographic Information System for the General Practice sector in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Background: This paper details a collaborative research project, which developed a Geographic Information System for two diverse administrative areas of general medical practitioners in Victoria, Australia. The study is one of a small number of initiatives in the use of geospatial information and application of G.I.S. technology to the health sector in Australia. Context of the setting of these Divisions of General Practice is given, depicting the role of Divisions in improving the health of the Australian population. An outline of the role of data and information technology in the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency in the operations of these Divisions of General Practice is detailed.

Methods: The paper will describe the methodology of the pilot project, which was aligned to the Divisions' needs and future directions. Data sources were a combination of routinely collected demographic, health and roads network data sets from local, state and federal. Additional data was collected by questionnaire, profiling general medical practices.

Results: Rationale for the selection of the Internet as the preferred method of presenting the GIS prototype is described. A range of data analysis will be demonstrated depicting the role of this integrated information in the identification of strategic decision making and of further research possibilities.

Conclusions: This project demonstrates the potential of a GIS to assist in decision making in local health areas with its ability to answer spatial questions and understand spatial relationships. - Routine collection of morbidity and treatment information at the general practice level would enhance data quality at the general practice level. - The methodology and outcomes of this project are serving as a springboard to broader interest in the uptake of GIS in the health sector, given the diversity and widespread location of the population.