Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages the largest healthcare system under a single management structure in the United States. Providing access to high quality healthcare to the VA’s nearly 9 million enrollees is a mission priority for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the arm of the VA that oversees all medical facilities and operations. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools enable analysts to construct data-driven recommendations to policy makers for providing the best and most timely healthcare to those individuals who have honorably served their country. This paper illustrates how GIS is being used by the VHA and provides the example of acute stroke care access for Veterans in one Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) within the VHA.
Highlights
Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States [1]
Our first objective sought to identify Veterans Affairs (VA) enrollees diagnosed with acute stroke over a five year period and to ascertain their access to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals with acute stroke care capabilities
Primary Stroke Center (PSC) and Limited Hours Stroke Facility (LHSF) are capable of providing acute stroke care; the former at all times, the latter only during pre-specified hours
Summary
Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States [1]. Its high prevalence and associated neurological deficits impose a large burden on patients, their families, and the health care system. This is especially true among the elderly, where cerebrovascular diseases (stroke and transient ischemic attacks) are the. How to cite this paper: Ripley, D.C.C., et al (2014) Using GIS to Plan Specialty Health Services for Veterans: The Example of Acute Stroke Care. Among patients hospitalized with stroke, two-thirds are over age 65, and half are over age 70 years. With an increasing incidence of stroke combined with a growing elderly population, the absolute number of people with stroke will continue to increase in the coming decades
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