Philip Diller

The impact of a clinic move on vulnerable patients with chronic disease: a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis.

Background: Changing locations disrupts the populations served by primary health care clinics, and such changes may differentially affect access to care for vulnerable populations. Methods: Online geographic information systems mapping tools were used to define how the relocation of a family medicine center impacted access to care for black and Hispanic patients with chronic disease. Results: Maps created from practice management data revealed a distinct shift in black and Hispanic patients with chronic disease being served in the new location. Conclusions: Geographic information systems tools are valuable aids in defining changing service areas of primary health care clinics.

Global choices: international health and medical student residency preferences.

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MANAGEMENT OF HEART FAILURE

Heart failure imposes a major burden on society. Primary care physicians, who care for 70% of all heart-failure patients, have opportunities to reduce the economic and mortality impact of this disease by improved outpatient management. Management tasks for these patients are discussed. Successful completion of these tasks will lead to an improvement in functional capacity, fewer hospitalizations, and longer lives for heart-failure patients.