Geospatial Medicine

Abstract

The emerging field of geospatial medicine is a sub-discipline of medicine that emphasizes the importance of a patient's place history in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Much like the way in which laboratory test reports flag results that are outside of a test's reference range, GIS technologies can be designed to provide similar warnings, or flags, to help physicians take notice of environmental or "place" factors that could be contributing to the patient's symptoms. Geospatial medicine provides physicians with a more precise clinical understanding about where patients live, work, and play, and how a patient's movement and place history can reduce exposure or risks to environmental or social hazards that adversely personal health. The National Children's Study and the Center for Geospatial Medicine are two research programs that are highlighted in this chapter, as these research programs enable clinicians to make connections between multi-dimensional environmental factors, and to provide an integrated therapy that links environmental health information to patient care. In addition, geospatial medicine's focus on personalized care is closely aligned with the goals of accountable care organizations (AC0s), as prescribed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Finally, as many universities and research institutions have begun developing curricula that teach the relationship between geography and patient care, it is very likely that the next generation of health care providers will be well-trained in the life-saving contributions of geospatial medicine.