Text 4. Using gis for Public Health

In 1854, an English physician, John Snow provided the classic example of how mapping can be used in epidemiological research. He identified the water resource responsible for on outbreak of cholera in London by mapping the locations of those afflicted. GIS has continued to be used in public health for epidemiological studies. By tracking the sources of diseases and the movements of contagions, agencies can respond more effectively to outbreaks of disease by identifying at risk populations and targeting intervention.

Public health uses of GIS include tracking child immunizations, conducting health policy research, and establishing service areas and districts.

GIS provides a way to move data from the project level so that it can be used by the entire organization. Clinical and administrative information can be disseminated in a visual and geographic manner that is easily understood using Internet technology.

Quick access to medical records is crucial to effective treatment.

GIS has helped the health care industry manage resources and personnel in many of the same ways it has helped other consumer service enterprises.

Exercise 23. Look through the words and try to remember their meaning:

epidemiological research —епідеміологічне дослідження

to identify —визначати

to include —включати

outbreak of cholera —спалах холери

source of disease —джерело захворювання

movement of contagions —поширення інфекцій

child immunization —дитяча імунізація

effective treatment —результативне лікування

health care —охорона здоров’я

Exercise 24. Answer the following questions:

1. When did an English physician, John Snow provide mapping in epidemiological research?

2. How did he identify the water resource responsible for on outbreak of cholera in London?

3. What do public health uses of GIS include?

4. How is clinical and administrative information easily understood using Internet technology?

5. What is crucial to effective treatment?

6. Who has GIS helped?

Exercise 25. Translate the following word combinations:

English physician, epidemiological research, outbreak of cholera, public health, sources of diseases, movements of contagions, targeting intervention, tracking child immunizations, medical records, effective treatment.

Exercise 26. Complete the following chart:

Verb	Noun	Adjective
to response	responsibility	responsible
to afflict
to conduct
to move
to access
to record

Exercise 27. Look through the following verb forms and define the tense, write the infinitive of the verb:

provided, identified, has continued, include, provides, has helped, be disseminated.

Exercise 28. Put verbs in the brackets in the correct form:

1. In 1854, an English physician, John Snow _________ (to provide) the classic example of how mapping can be used in epidemiological research.

2. GIS ___________(to continue) to be used in public health for epidemiological studies.

3. Public health uses of GIS _______ (to include) tracking child immunizations, conducting health policy research, and establishing service areas and districts.

4. GIS ___________(to help) the health care industry manage resources and personnel in many of the same ways it has helped other consumer service enterprises.