NACDD congratulates Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin for their selection as participants in the 2018 Advanced Thematic GIS Training for State Health Departments: Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Address Blood Pressure Medication Adherence.

Two representatives of each health department’s Domain 3 medication adherence work will participate in a 10-day, intensive GIS training, including 2.5 days of in-person training at Rice University in Houston, TX in 2018. The training curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of state health departments working on blood pressure medication adherence and was piloted in April 2017.

GIS are computer-based systems that allow users to analyze and display geographically referenced data. Training participants will develop maps useful in highlighting and addressing the blood pressure medication adherence needs in their respective communities. These projects will address four key areas related to blood pressure medication adherence: 

1. >Documenting existing geographic disparities in blood pressure medication adherence;
2. Identifying gaps in clinical, community, and public health services that are important for supporting blood pressure medication adherence;
3. Providing a basis for informing programs and policies related to blood pressure medication adherence; and
4. Enhancing existing partnerships and facilitating new partnerships among pharmacists, physicians, hospitals, public health clinics, community health workers, and other health systems and health care organizations. 

Learn more by visiting NACDD’s GIS webpage.