The public health care planning problem: A case study using geographic information systems

Abstract

We address the problem of designing new networks for the delivery of public health care services in the United States. The paper is based on a case study design conducted with the Fulton County Health Department (Atlanta, GA). The research contribution this paper makes is twofold. First, it presents a planning methodology to deliver health care services through a mix of fixed health centers, satellite facilities, and mobile facilities. Second, it gives insights on how to use geographic information systems to design new health care service networks.