For several years, Centralina Regional Council has partnered with the Rowan County Health Department to leverage Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology in service of public health. This collaboration has focused on mapping client addresses to better understand the community’s health needs and enhance the delivery of services.
At the heart of this effort is geocoding, the process of assigning geographic coordinates to clinic and program client addresses. By visualizing client locations on a map, the Rowan County Health Department has gained critical spatial insights that go beyond traditional data analysis. This spatial awareness serves two essential functions. First, it allows the health department to overlay socioeconomic indicators such as age and disability status from U.S. Census Bureau data on the mapped client distribution. This helps identify service gaps and assess whether the current programs are reaching all segments of the population.
Second, the maps illuminate the built environment in which clients live. This includes examining proximity to transit routes, parks, grocery stores, greenways and the clinics themselves. Understanding these spatial dynamics enables the county to ask and answer strategic questions like, “Are we located in the best place to serve our clients?” In the latest iteration of this initiative, a new layer of analysis was added: clients’ preferred language. This data point offers a powerful tool for advocating for translator services and pinpointing where language support is most urgently needed.
To further enhance accessibility and usability, Centralina’s Regional Planning Department compiled multiple years of geocoded client data into an interactive platform using ArcGIS Online. The result is a dynamic, user-friendly dashboard application that allows Rowan County officials to explore key data points, such as the number of patients served and languages spoken, at the click of a button. The dashboard is also embeddable, allowing for easy integration into public-facing websites and presentations.
This collaboration highlights how GIS tools, in the hands of local governments, can drive smarter, data-informed decisions that directly impact community well-being. Through our technical expertise, Centralina continues to support governments in serving their residents more effectively.
To learn how GIS can benefit your community, contact Lela Ijames at lijames@centralina.org.
