Efficient Tactical and Strategic Planning Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

“An integrated collection of computer software and data used to view and manage information about geographic places, analyze spatial relationships, and model spatial processes. A GIS provides a framework for gathering and organizing spatial data and related information so that it can be displayed and analyzed.” -ESRI

Physician Recruitment Regulation The hospital’s geographic service area is defined as the area composed of the lowest number of contiguous zip codes from which the hospital draws at least 75% of its inpatients. Medicare Program: Physician’s Referrals to Health Care Entities Wit h Which They Have Financial Relationships (Phase II), 60FR (Mar. 28, 2004).

Physician Recruitment Regulation Stark II with the following clarifications: 1. “The zip codes need to be contiguous to each other, but not necessarily to the zip code in which the hospital is located.” 2. “A recruited physician may relocate his or her practice to a zip code not counted among the contiguous zip codes (donut hole), as long as the contiguous zip codes from which the hospital derives 75 % of its inpatients surround that donut hole.” compliance.pdfcompliance.pdf (Accessed June 27, 2012)

Physician Recruitment Regulation Stark II with the following clarifications: 3. “If a hospital draws fewer than 75% of its inpatients from all of the contiguous zip codes from which it draws patients, the hospital’s service area may be deemed to include all those contiguous zip codes from which it draws inpatients.” compliance.pdfcompliance.pdf (Accessed June 27, 2012)

Physician Recruitment Regulation Stark II with the following clarifications: 4. “If a hospital can meet the applicable threshold for inpatients (i.e. 75% or 90% for rural hospitals) using multiple zip code configurations, the hospital may use one or more of the configurations. Consequently, the hospital can use different geographic service areas for different recruitment arrangements as long as the service area requirements are met on the date the recruitment arrangement is entered into with the physician.” compliance.pdfcompliance.pdf (Accessed June 27, 2012)

Requires all 501(c)(3) hospitals to conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA) at least once every 3 years ( icle/0,,id=236275,00.html) (Accessed July 17, 2012). icle/0,,id=236275,00.html

Section 501(r)(3)(B) of Section 9007 “requires that a CHNA take into account input from persons…, including those with special knowledge of public health.” ( 52.pdf) (Accessed July 17, 2012) 52.pdf

Using the power of maps to convey spatial information about your market, GIS can be used in Medical Staff Development Plans (MSDPs) as well as displaying community assets and demographic profiles from the CHNA at the same time!

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