Room
2ème étage - D230
Theme
Surveillance
Title
Geographic Information System in Public Health: Transforming Surveillance, Response, and Resilience
Chair
Este Geraghty
Affiliation
Esri
Suisse
Co-authors:
- Astrid Gladys
- Mathieu Cerciat
Abstract
The evolving landscape of public health challenges necessitates innovative approaches to health surveillance, response, and resilience. Our presentation delves into the transformative impact of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in public health, underlining its significant role in managing diverse and interconnected datasets for faster and evidence-based decision-making.
The first aspect of our discussion focuses on the critical importance of spatial surveillance in public health. We explore how GIS aids in monitoring various health concerns, ranging from infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza to chronic and vector-borne diseases, as well as environmental exposures that affect health. We’ll emphasize the utility of map-based dashboards and integrated systems for enhanced situational awareness. At the same time, we’ll show an innovative approach to rapid population health needs assessments to ensure that response strategies are equitable, support the most vulnerable populations, and align well with the lived experience in the impacted community.
Progressing from surveillance, we extend the conversation to examine the strategic application of GIS in managing health crises. We delve into its role in spatial planning for emergency services, such as optimizing ambulance routes, and analyzing hospital surge capacity. Location-focused strategies for expanding both healthcare capacity and other critical services, such as broad vaccination programs will also be shared.
The final part of our presentation builds upon the previous sections, focusing on strengthening the robustness and resilience of health systems using GIS. We highlight the innovative applications for indoor GIS in hospital management, which includes wayfinding, asset tracking, facility and space management, and enhancing safety and security, particularly for hospital preparedness planning. Additionally, this section will cover how GIS can support patient engagement in an effort to improve services delivered and patient experiences.
Overall, this session is designed to expand the knowledge of health professionals, policy-makers, and technologists about location intelligence. Attendees will gain comprehensive insights into the advanced applications of GIS in public health. The presentation aims to demonstrate how these tools can revolutionize surveillance, crisis response, and system resilience, leading to more positive health outcomes and effective preparedness strategies.