Using Internet Databases to Advance Health Equity, Population Health, and Workforce Planning

Abstract

Physician leaders and policymakers must understand the attributes of their patients’ communities and geographies. Numerous databases provide access to extensive data too numerous to manage casually: U.S. Census data are sortable for information about people and places; HRSA data can be viewed using online data tools and mapping functions; and CDC data is searchable using key words down to the county level. The ESRI Community Analyst tool can synthesize numerous databases that together can elevate the usefulness of census data, community data, and geographic information systems. For physician leaders and their colleagues, these databases and tools can effectively support their understanding of disease burdens and social determinants of health en route to improving the health of patients and populations where they live.