Maternity Ward Closures in Philadelphia: Using GIS to Measure Disruptions in Essential Health Services

Abstract

GIS is a robust analysis tool capable of contributing to a more comprehensive study of public health issues than was possible using traditional methods. By analyzing the issue of maternity ward closures in Philadelphia, this paper explores the proper methods for utilizing, processing, and analyzing sensitive public health data. These analytical methods are underutilized in public health research due to widespread unfamiliarity with GIS technology as well as difficulty in accessing accurate data. Understanding and adopting GIS technology is valuable to the assessment, allocation, and delivery of health care services.

KEYWORDS:

• GIS
• geographic information system
• maternity care
• health care
• service allocation
• spatial analysis
• Philadelphia

Notes

1. http://www.spatialecology.com/gme/

2. http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/aff_transition.html

3. These data are not available in the geocoded birth dataset used for this study. The figures for this table are derived from the report by Jennifer Kolker, 2007.

4. Any birth with less than 37 weeks of gestation time is considered a preterm birth. Any birth weight measuring less than 2,500 grams is considered a low birth weight.

5. 1996 births of Philadelphia residents: 22,524. 2008 Births of Philadelphia residents: 23,559.

6. There was a loss of 214 medical professional jobs at Philadelphia hospitals between 1996 and 2005.

7. Number of hospital births multiplied by 2.9 projected maternity days. Projected maternity days/365 = average daily census.

8. 75% occupancy is recommended by American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

9. Current unemployment rate as recorded in February 2010 was 11.4%, up from 6.6% in February 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.