Healthcare Accessibility Models using Spatial Data

Grace Cooper - IPUMS Senior Data Analyst

Outline of webinar

  • What is Healthcare Accessibility?
  • Methods of measuring healthcare accessibility
  • Q&A
  • Introducing an improved model
  • Example application
  • Q&A

Zoom Logistics

  • Webinar is being recorded & will be posted
  • Real-time closed captions are being auto-generated
    • Turn off/on by clicking “CC” button in zoom controls
  • Send questions about zoom directly to host (IPUMS)
  • Use the Q&A to ask questions
  • The recording and materials will be posted on the Spatial Analysis and Health Research blog
  • Code provided will be in Python, but executable in RStudio through Quarto
  • Will post written Q&A document following the webinar

What is Healthcare Accessibility?

Dimensions of Healthcare Accessibility

  • Spatial Accessibility
    • Distance or Travel Time
    • Supply and Demand
  • Availability of Care
    • Services and provider capacity
  • Affordability of Services
    • Insurance and out-of-pocket costs
  • Quality of Care
    • Provider type
    • Patient experience

Spatial Accessibility: How travel time is measured

Straight-line Distance

  • Travel “as the crow flies”
  • Simple buffer
  • No data about road or terrain needed

Map showing a single facility buffered with a circle.

Simple buffer around a facility

Spatial Accessibility: How travel time is measured

Straight-line Distance

  • Travel “as the crow flies”
  • Simple buffer
  • No data about road or terrain needed

Road Network Distance

  • Travel along roads
  • Requires complete road network data, including travel speeds
  • Assumes travel is restricted to roads

Map showing a catchment area based on network analysis.

Service area created from network analysis

Spatial Accessibility: How travel time is measured

Straight-line Distance

  • Travel “as the crow flies”
  • Simple buffer
  • No data about road or terrain needed

Road Network Distance

  • Travel along roads
  • Requires complete road network data, including travel speeds
  • Assumes travel is restricted to roads

Friction Surface

  • Travel across the landscape
  • Travel cost varies based on roads, terrain, and barriers
  • Allows travel both along and off roads

Map showing a catchment area based on friction surface.

Service area created from a friction surface

Spatial Accessibility: Other Considerations

  • Supply
    • The availability of healthcare services, such as facilities, providers, or beds
  • Demand
    • The population that needs or seeks those services
  • Distance Decay
    • The tendency for use to decrease as distance increases
  • Preferences
    • Factors that influence which services people choose, such as provider gender or facility type
  • Other Factors
    • Quality, cost, hours of operation, and other characteristics of services

Existing Frameworks for Measuring Accessibility