• Program: Epidemiology
• Background: We have seen an exacerbated recognition of health inequities in the United States and worldwide during the past quarter-century. Early in 2020, our public health team at Maximus assisted our health department partners with transitioning data systems and data management from the pre-pandemic routine collection of infectious disease case data into COVID-19 specific surveillance systems. We integrated our GIS capabilities to identify health disparities and inequities among communities. Objectives: 1. Discuss how GIS can track the sources of diseases and the movements of contagions. 2. Demonstrate how health agencies can respond more effectively to disease outbreaks by applying GIS technology to identify at-risk populations and target interventions. Methods: Our team used GIS to develop mapping models and data visualization tools to support timely, reliable, and high-quality data visualization. Spatial methods also inform our health department partners in their decision-making as part of their response efforts tailored to their respective communities. Results: The surveillance data and GIS methodologies illustrated health disparities such as low vaccination rates due to access, limited resources, or inequitable social determinants of health. As a result, we assisted our health department partners in planning and implementing equitable programs and interventions within high-priority communities. Conclusion: The application of data analytic tools and GIS has proven instrumental in achieving equitable public health response. Our programs directly impacted the goal of achieving equity by identifying gaps, supporting in defining solutions and interventions, and making the connection between a population’s location and its health equity status.

Presenters

Jonnell Sanciangco Maximus Public Health GIS Manager

Learning Outcomes
Linked Session ID: 945550

Learning Outcomes
Authors: Jonnell Sanciangco, MSc, GISP, Nomana Khan, MBBS, MPH, Erika Quinones, MPH, MBA
Maximus Public Health

Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcome 1: Discuss how GIS can track the sources of diseases and the movements of contagions.

Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate how health agencies can respond more effectively to disease outbreaks by applying GIS technology to identify at-risk populations and target interventions.

Learning Outcomes
Linked Session Title: Epidemiology and Equity: Methods & Measurement