A team of Missouri healthcare groups launched a population health database to help local hospitals identify underlying community health issues.
The Missouri Foundation for Health, Missouri Hospital Association Health Institute and the University of Missouri Extension Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems in Columbia launched exploreMOhealth.org to provide hospitals, public health officials, community health professionals and the public with insight into local health concerns.
The statewide resource presents health data at the county and ZIP code levels, including data related to health and social issues like cancer, teen pregnancy and obesity, among others.
In a March 21 joint statement, the three healthcare groups suggested the database would prove a useful resource for hospitals looking to manage population health. As an example, the groups noted the database may serve as a resource for hospitals developing targeted community health needs assessments.
"The changing healthcare landscape emphasizes the need for high-quality research if we're going to enhance our current health system," Robert Hughes, PhD, president and CEO of the Missouri Foundation for Health, said in the statement. "Health outcomes vary depending on location … A site like exploreMOhealth.org ties it all together and demonstrates why health goes far beyond healthcare."