Building a customized vulnerable map for the Health Foundation of South Florida
Summary
In July of 2020, Spatially Health was commissioned by the Health Foundation of South Florida (hfsf.org) to apply our expertise in predictive modeling and build out a customized COVID vulnerabilities index for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The goal was to utilize location-based analytics to best highlight high-risk areas where targeted interventions by the nonprofit foundation would have the greatest impact.
The data-driven digital mapping tool we created delivers block-by-block visualizations, identifying pockets of social, racial and economic disparities among local communities — population segments often most vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus.
The insights generated by the map would not be possible using standard methods of data collection and analysis — such as emphasizing case data alone — and these insights have proven highly effective in the foundation’s development and deployment of mitigation strategies designed to combat COVID.
Highlights
Customized vulnerability score addressing the immediate challenges focusing on outreach.
Visualization of populations with the greatest disparities, down to block level.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach and accountability for future projects.
The COVID Vulnerability Index is an invaluable tool for the Health Foundation. With precision and detail, the platform allows us to find the people and communities most in need of coronavirus support and interventions. It informs our strategy and shapes our outreach so that we can get in front of the pandemic rather than just follow it.
- Janisse Rosario Schoepp, M.P.H., Ph.D.
CodeVice President of Operations and StrategyHealth Foundation of South Floridatic
By the numbers
$1.5 million investment by the Health Foundation to protect the vulnerable.
2,521 block groups in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties visually represented.
Out of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties’ 2.5 million people 150,000 individuals.
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M
Invested by the Health Foundation to protect the vulnerable and get them safely back to work.
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Block groups in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties visually represented.
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K
Individuals out of 2.5 million people in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties’ were identified as those most vulnerable.
Benefits of data visualization
Using location to paint the clearest data picture.
Spatial patterns are a rich, often unused source of health data; utilizing them greatly accelerates delivering impactful healthcare initiatives.and emergency managers mitigate the impact of COVID-19, Spatially
Health developed the COVID-19 Local Vulnerabilities Map, which
reveals areas most vulnerable to a virus outbreak. The map uses a
vulnerability score — calculated with verifiable data for known risk
factors, demographics, population density figures and the number of
congregant care facilities in a geographic location — to identify where an
elevated risk for the virus to emerge and spread exists. Stakeholders use
this information to develop scalable prevention and mitigation
strategies, prioritize and coordinate the deployment of resources and
testing sites, and plan for a safe return to business and a reopened
economy
Highlighting local characteristics.
Racial and ethnic makeup of targeted communities, along with other social determinants, contributes valuable insight on how these neighborhoods truly line up with the existing resources and testing sites available.
Granular visualization.
Block-by-block observation of what’s working and how well, and where partner outreach may need to recalibrate for optimal outcomes.
High-performance analytics at scale.
Spatially Health built a custom product with the agility to adjust, pivot and grow with local conditions as needed, and assist in the procurement of future funding efforts.and emergency managers mitigate the impact of COVID-19, Spatially
Health developed the COVID-19 Local Vulnerabilities Map, which
reveals areas most vulnerable to a virus outbreak. The map uses a
vulnerability score — calculated with verifiable data for known risk
factors, demographics, population density figures and the number of
congregant care facilities in a geographic location — to identify where an
elevated risk for the virus to emerge and spread exists. Stakeholders use
this information to develop scalable prevention and mitigation
strategies, prioritize and coordinate the deployment of resources and
testing sites, and plan for a safe return to business and a reopened
economy
