Health Atlas: Tutorial of a Visualization Tool and Data Resource for Place-Based Social and Structural Determinants of Health - Report - MDSpire

Health Atlas: Tutorial of a Visualization Tool and Data Resource for Place-Based Social and Structural Determinants of Health

  • By

  • Debora L Oh

  • Kathryn E Kemper-McIsaac

  • Dan Meltzer

  • Eric Brelsford

  • Kelsey Taylor

  • Dhananjay Vinay Dixit

  • Andrea Nickerson

  • Riya Desai

  • Salma Shariff-Marco

  • Courtney Lyles

  • Scarlett Gomez

  • Mark J Pletcher

  • Mindy C DeRouen

  • July 9, 2026

  • 0 min

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Geographic Health Atlas: A Guide to a Visualization Resource for Social and Structural Health Determinants

Overview

The Geographic Health Atlas provides a centralized platform for accessing place-based data that influences health outcomes. It aims to enhance public health interventions by visualizing social and structural determinants of health across various geographic levels.

Background

Understanding the impact of geographic location on health outcomes is crucial for effective public health strategies. Social determinants such as access to food, housing, and healthcare, along with structural factors like policies and governance, significantly shape health disparities. The Health Atlas serves as a vital resource for researchers and practitioners to analyze these determinants systematically.

Data Highlights

Data DomainsNumber of Variables
Demographics206
Socioeconomic206
Neighborhood206
Environment206
Health and Health Care206

Key Findings

  • The Health Atlas includes data across 7 geographic levels, primarily at the census tract level.
  • It provides access to 206 variables across five topical domains related to health determinants.
  • The platform was developed by UCSF to facilitate the exploration of place-based health factors.
  • Publicly accessible data has expanded significantly over the last decade, although it remains fragmented.
  • Health Atlas aims to support public health interventions by providing a comprehensive view of social and structural determinants.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals can utilize the Health Atlas to identify and address social determinants impacting their patient populations.

Conclusion

The Geographic Health Atlas represents a significant advancement in the accessibility of place-based health data.

Related Resources & Content

  1. UCSF Health Atlas, UCSF, 2024 -- Geographic Health Atlas Overview
  2. JAMA Network Open — Validity of Area-Based Social Risk Indices Used at Higher-Level Geographies and Clinic Locations
  3. American Journal of Epidemiology — Exploring the Complex Effects of Spatial Exposures on Health Throughout the Life Course
  4. JMIR Medical Informatics (Journal of Medical Internet Research) — Using Health Information Systems to Support Behavioral Interventions in Local Contexts: Scoping Review
  5. Frontiers in Epidemiology — Spatial modeling of HIV prevalence in Malawi using generalized additive models
  6. Validity of Area-Based Social Risk Indices Used at Higher-Level Geographies and Clinic Locations
  7. Exploring the Complex Effects of Spatial Exposures on Health Throughout the Life Course
  8. Using Health Information Systems to Support Behavioral Interventions in Local Contexts: Scoping Review
  9. Screening for Food Insecurity: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement | Guidelines | JAMA | JAMA Network
  10. Screening for Health-Related Social Needs: American College of Preventive Medicine's Practice Statement - ScienceDirect
  11. 2025 ACC/AHA Clinical Practice Guidelines Core Principles and Development Process: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines
  12. 2023-28857. Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing, Federal Register
  13. ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2025
  14. Annual Wellness Visit: Social Determinants of Health Risk Assessment
  15. National Patient Safety Goals®
  16. About PLACES: Local Data for Better Health | PLACES | CDC
  17. USPSTF Review: Preventive Services for Food Insecurity
  18. Collecting and using social needs data in health settings: a systematic review of the literature on health service utilization and costs | BMC Health Services Research | Springer Nature Link
  19. Impact of Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs on Food Insecurity, Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, and Health Outcomes: A Community Guide Systematic Review - PubMed

Original Source(s)

Health Atlas: Tutorial of a Visualization Tool and Data Resource for Place-Based Social and Structural Determinants of Health

  • by Debora L Oh, Kathryn E Kemper-McIsaac, Dan Meltzer, Eric Brelsford, Kelsey Taylor, Dhananjay Vinay Dixit, Andrea Nickerson, Riya Desai, Salma Shariff-Marco, Courtney Lyles, Scarlett Gomez, Mark J Pletcher, Mindy C DeRouen

  • July 9, 2026

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