使用计算机图形技术来绘制描述医疗保健提供系统的起终点数据。

Using computer graphics to map origin-destination data describing health care delivery systems.

作者信息

Francis A M, Schneider J B

出版信息

Soc Sci Med. 1984;18(5):405-20. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(84)90057-1.

Abstract

An interactive graphic computer program, called FLOWMAP, is used to examine the referral patterns of cancer patients in western Washington between 1974 and 1978. FLOWMAP allows one to produce several types of maps from origin-destination data easily and inexpensively. Several maps show some of the significant geographic components of the referral of more than 7000 cancer patients among 13 counties over a 5-year period. It is shown that cancer care has become more decentralized during this period. Nine other possible applications of FLOWMAP to issues of concern regarding the delivery of health care are described. Maps produced by FLOWMAP can be expected to cost 1/30 to 1/50 of the cost of comparable manual methods. An Appendix gives some technical detail regarding the use of FLOWMAP and its data requirements.

摘要

一个名为FLOWMAP的交互式图形计算机程序被用于研究1974年至1978年期间华盛顿州西部癌症患者的转诊模式。FLOWMAP使人们能够轻松且低成本地从起点-终点数据生成几种类型的地图。几张地图展示了5年期间13个县中7000多名癌症患者转诊的一些重要地理组成部分。结果表明，在此期间癌症护理变得更加分散。还描述了FLOWMAP在与医疗保健提供相关的其他九个可能应用的问题。预计FLOWMAP生成的地图成本仅为类似手工方法成本的1/30至1/50。附录给出了有关FLOWMAP使用及其数据要求的一些技术细节。