Using Google Maps to integrate and disseminate health information

Background - Academic and state centers maintain large data repositories containing data obtained from a variety of sources. Our center produces myriad reports including a mortality trend series by county, health care atlas, and an area physician directory. The center continues to seek innovative ways of managing these data and displaying information for community use, particularly in underserved communities. Objective/purpose -A web-query data system was built to provide health status, health resource, and demographic data relevant to community-based and academic researchers in an accessible and usable format. The use of open-source software was employed for cost-effective development. Methods - The repository was constructed by migrating the existing data repository to a relational database hosted on a server with an open-source operating system, database management system and web server. An interface for querying the data repository was constructed using the open Google Map web service platform. Users' needs and interests as well as usability and acceptance of the system will be evaluated through means of a follow-up survey. Results - The system is easily used and will be demonstrated. With a combination of variables available for selection by the user, data is available in a dynamic fashion that would have required considerable resources to prepare by hand. Discussion - As health data becomes more easily accessible using the world-wide-web, it is logical that resources be devoted to the dynamic display of regional health data. Advantages of web-based query systems include large audience penetration and flexible combinations and formats of data desired. The use of open-source software serves as a model for eliminating licensing fees while providing control over data output in a system that may be shared openly with other communities. The overall platform is cost-effective when developer time is factored together with potential future savings in personnel time.