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

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.