Comprehensive Data, Rigorous Analysis and Innovative Conclusions
By Melissa Bosworth, Colorado Rural Health Center
I once read that a good database not only helps to convert data into outcomes, but also supports knowledge consumption and creation by enhancing a user’s ability to comprehend data, creatively analyze them and then innovate conclusions. When I was studying at Regis University for my Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration, I became familiar with various publicly available databases and even purchased a data set for use in my thesis research. What I found during my study was a lack of data for rural areas – and nothing specifically aggregated for rural Colorado.
At the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC), rural health is our business. We function as the State Office of Rural Health and member-based association for rural health care facilities – a sort of clearinghouse for services, resources, news and information regarding the many facets of rural health care. Upon examination of CRHC’s already vast data reserve, we determined that we had enough independent data to aggregate into a rural health data bank. Specifically, we used measures from community health needs assessments, which measure progress toward Healthy People 2020 goals and Colorado’s 10 Winnable Battles.
It took three months of planning, over 150 hours of data entry and a week of data analysis to create the Health Awareness for Rural Communities (HARC) Data Bank. As advancements toward a data-driven health care system continue, the need for a higher level of information services is growing. The HARC Data Bank serves as the only known database dedicated solely to examining county-level health data for rural Colorado.
The HARC Data Bank contains over 100 population health measures. Our HARC infographic is a great visual depiction of the available data and its value to various audiences. Through the use of HARC’s quantitative measures, one is able to examine the dynamics of rural and frontier counties in Colorado. Through our analysis of the data, we can demonstrate that rural and frontier areas of the state show unanticipated strengths and opportunities. For example, although rural Coloradans have a lower violent crime rate – 12.94 incidences per 100,000 people, compared to 33.4 statewide – unintentional injuries and deaths are nearly double in rural areas.
Our members are a diverse group of rural health care facilities and providers. The HARC Data Bank was created as a tool to better serve them. “Critical access hospitals and rural health clinics are poised to lead the efforts in improving population health,” said Michelle Mills, CEO for CRHC. The HARC Data Bank will help accomplish this.
As CRHC begins to roll out this new service, we have put together a variety of educational materials about the HARC Data Bank and its various applications. Read our press release or check out the HARC issue paper. For additional information, please contact me via email or call 303-832-7493.
