A small area profile system: Its use in primary care resource development

Abstract

The use of secondary source data has been shown to be extremely valuable in site testing for development of rural primary care clinics. A computerized data system which produces small area demographic and primary care resource profiles in a fast, efficient manner has been effectively integrated into a voluntary planning and project review process. An expansion of the small area profile concept to larger health service regions provides a means to shift emphasis from a reactive mode in site testing to an active mode for area-wide plan development.