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What is the health status of Georgia? •Description of problem or need The purpose of the Office of Health Indicators for Planning (OHIP) is to provide valid and reliable evidence about the health status of the population of Georgia. Many public and private entities need relevant data at the local level. Spatial display of data can require many resources. Requests for health data need to be answered in a timely manner, and be relevant to local information users. As required by customers (e.g. District Public Health Directors) to enable local health planning, OHIP created and applied a standardized geocoding process: Data are analyzable by latitude/longitude or any sub-county unit. Such geographical units increase the precision with which health planners can identify spatial trends in health outcomes, and in turn evaluate public health interventions. •How will the problem be solved? OHIP developed quicker and more reliable ways of distributing health information to consumers: The Online Analytical Statistical Information System (OASIS) http://oasis.state.ga.us OASIS (Online Analytical Statistical Information System) – Mapping Tool OHIP developed a data quality protocol that uses best practices to address problems with information accessibility, understandability, consistency, and accuracy. OASIS is a set of online research tools for health planners, epidemiologists and the general public. OASIS Mapping Tool contains birth, death, fetal death, and hospital discharge data (and will include ER Visit, Population and STD data soon). Indicators include death rates, discharge rates, low birth weight rates, infant mortality rates, YPLL, ambulatory care sensitive conditions, repeat births, pregnancy rates, repeat pregnancies, preterm births, births by educational level, and births by marital status. Data are available at census tract, county commission district, county, public health district and perinatal region geographies. Gordon Freymann, MPH – Director, Office of Health Indicators for Planning (OHIP) Jeff McMichael, MA - Director, Spatial Analysis & GIS Team (OHIP) Epidemiology Branch, Division of Public Health Georgia Department of Community Health Phone: (404) 657 - 1923 [email protected]
