Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Strategic Planning

Background: Colorado has been selected to participate in two significant demonstrations through CDC. First is the GIS capacity building project focused on Heard Disease and Stroke Prevention (HDSP). The second demonstration pilot is focused on chronic disease integration in Health Departments. These two opportunities have positioned the Colorado Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program to enhance strategic planning based on data gathering and mapping through the GIS project and for coordinating that mapping with multiple programs that address chronic diseases in order to better integrate current programmatic activities.

Opportunity: HDSP program priorities have several areas of overlap with primary and secondary prevention programs that ultimately impact blood pressure and cholesterol control through diet, exercise and smoking cessation. The diabetes Prevention and Control program has many simiar risk factors and management issues related to diabetes control that can be addressed through the same mapping data.

Results/Discussion: Colorado is utilizing the recently gained knowledge and experience in GIS mapping to provide a visual platform that will enhance strategic planning activities based on the layering of resouces, demographics and morbidity/mortality data overlay. This platform will enable the chronic disease programs to map social determinants, resource location, health care facilities and other information to give a better picture of where to focus efforts across all chronic diseases and prevention activities. The presentation will guide the participant through the steps of GIS mapping that will provide an example of mapping and strategic planning.