Integrating and Mapping Community Health Assessment Information: Maps for CHIPPs

Background: Accurate and timely public health surveillance and tracking systems are critical in prevention and control of diseases, monitoring of health disparities and health policy. The ability to visualize public health data through detailed maps is critical in these processes, but has been hindered in Wisconsin by limited resources and infrastructure. Purpose: The Maps for Community Health Improvement Processes and Plans (Maps for CHIPPs) is an Academic-Community partnership project aimed at developing an automated web-based geographic information system (GIS) infrastructure for public health professionals, students and community members that provides convenient mapped population information from a variety of data sources to support public health improvement planning and policies. Methods: We used the SAS Enterprise Business Intelligence Server and Esri ArcGIS software to deliver highly customized maps to user online through the Wisconsin Public Health Information Network-Analysis, Visualization, and Reporting System. Results: The project has identified and developed capacity to map data from various data sources including vital records (births, infant mortality, and mortality) and Wisconsin inpatient hospital discharges. The maps can be customized to meet end user needs (e.g., community assessment). The system allows maps to be generated at a variety of geographic levels (e.g., region, county, zip code, and minor civil division) depending on levels of aggregation available in the datasets. Conclusion: Academic-Community partnership is critical in building and supporting mapping capability in public health and enhancing surveillance and community assessment initiatives. Input of public health professional and community end users is critical in the mapping process.