256410 A GIS Perspective on the Status of the Abu Dhabi Health Care System

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Taghreed Abushareb, DrPH , Executive Office of Health Services Commander, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
     
The recent changes in the Abu Dhabi health care system have impacted the utilization patterns and potential locations of health care facilities. The study aims to assist decision makers utilize GIS as an evidence-based tool to determine how the various changes in Abu Dhabi health care system have impacted current utilization patterns among the hospitals of Abu Dhabi three sectors and strategically plan accordingly. The study utilized the geographic information system (GIS) and developed a logic model for the Abu Dhabi health care system. These approaches created a clear perspective of the actual and potential status of Abu Dhabi health care system. The resultant GIS maps and tables were analyzed for relationships among the variables, revealing the current status of Abu Dhabi health care system. The study revealed various issues related to current demand for healthcare as well as planning requirements in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi hospitals are inadequately utilized and the current strategic planning approach fails to result in the health care services required for the population of Abu Dhabi's three sectors. The Use of GIS as an evidence-based tool was demonstrated to be valuable approach for determining healthcare planning requirements for Abu Dhabi. Improvement of the decision making process is critical in order to optimize the Abu Dhabi health care system. Utilizing GIS, Abu Dhabi decision makers should be able to assess, prioritize and strategically plan an optimum health care system for Abu Dhabi's unique population.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Assess if current health care facilities exist in Abu Dhabi by sector (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Western Region). Analyze the demographic patterns (age, gender, birth rate, death rate, national vs. non national, population density) in each sector (Abu Dhabi city, Al-Ain, Western Region). Identify the utilization patterns by sector (inpatients’ utilization patterns [deliveries, non-disease conditions, and others] and nationality [nationals vs. non-nationals]).

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Captain Taghreed I Abushareb Dr.PH, EMHCA, BScN - I work in the executive Office of Health Services Commander, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces and my work involves knowing about the health care syste in our country. This presentation is about the health system in our country.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4218.0: International Perspectives in Health Administration