Article

Access to appropriate and timely healthcare is critical to the overall health and
well-being of patients with chronic diseases. In this study, we used geographic
information system (GIS) tools to map Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their access to MS specialty care. We
created six travel-time bands around VHA facilities with MS specialty care and
calculated the number of VHA patients with MS who resided in each time band and
the number of patients who lived more than 2 hours from the nearest specialty
clinic in fiscal year 2007. We demonstrate the utility of using GIS tools in
decision-making by providing three examples of how patients' access to care is
affected when additional specialty clinics are added. The mapping technique used
in this study provides a powerful and valuable tool for policy and planning
personnel who are evaluating how to address underserved populations and areas
within the VHA healthcare system.

Langue : ANGLAIS