Introducing HealthLandscape Version 3, Beta

The HealthLandscape team is pleased to announce the Beta launch of HealthLandscape Version 3.



We’re opening the new site in its Beta testing stage for public access while we fine tune the layout and controls and finish the development of the modules you’re all familiar with, such as Community HealthView and My HealthLandscape. We'll also be soliciting feedback from our Beta users to get an understanding of what you like and don't like about the new site design, and ways that we can improve the usability and flow of the application.

To start using HealthLandscape V3, go to beta.healthlandscape.org. You will need to create a new account to view and use the mapping application. You can use the same email address and password that you used to sign up for the original HealthLandscape, but at this time the accounts will not be transferred over automatically.

HealthLandscape Version 3 is vastly different from the current HealthLandscape in a number of ways. We've designed the new HealthLandscape to be easier to use, with fewer mouseclicks required to get to the data that you need. Instead of wizards and lists of data categories and variables, there are more logical ways to organize and sort the data. This new design allows you to turn tools on and off depending on your data needs, and also allows you to display layers from multiple tools on the map at the same time.



Another way that we're improving the ease of use is through the introduction of Quick Maps and Quick Geocodes, tools that will be introduced to you over the next few weeks as part of a series of blog entries about the details of HealthLandscape V3.

We're very excited to share the new site and hope you enjoy exploring the updates.

OASIS Data Archive Welcomes James Schwab

On January 24th, James Schwab joined The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as the new director, president, and chief executive officer.

Schwab, who previously announced his retirement as the Cincinnati market president for U.S. Bank, has long been deeply involved with Cincinnati’s non-profit community. He is chairman of the board of TriHealth and serves on the board of the Health Improvement Collaborative. Schwab also serves as trustee of The University of Cincinnati Foundation; The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Hoxworth Blood Center; The Children’s Home; The Cincinnati Zoo; the Research and Education Committee of Cincinnati’s Children’s Research Foundation; and the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board. Schwab is also a trustee of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

Jim Schwab is a lifelong Cincinnati resident and has held many positions with companies that dot Cincinnati’s skyline including Great American Holding Company, Xtec, General Cable Corporation, American Financial Corporation, Corporex and The Baldwin-United Corporation. Schwab graduated from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Michigan Law School.

The OASIS Data Archive team welcomes Mr. Schwab to the Health Foundation. We look forward to working together.

The Ohio and Kentucky Health Issues Polls

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati has always encouraged and supported data-driven decisions. It is in support of that goal that they started the Ohio Health Issues Poll (OHIP) in 2005. The Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) was created shortly thereafter, in 2008.

The surveys were developed in order to collect state-level public opinion and health assessment data. They are conducted once a year in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and cover a variety of topics, including insurance status, concerns about healthcare coverage, healthcare services, and others.

Conducting the polls on a yearly basis results in point-in-time and trended public opinion data as well as state-level trend data. When possible, the Polls use questions from national surveys to provide comparisons to national or regional data.

General information about the Polls, including results from all years, is available on our web site (OHIP/KHIP). The data are available for analysis and download in OASIS.

What is OASIS?

OASIS stands for Online Analysis and Statistical Information System. The project is funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a way to make the results of research more accessible to its grantees and the general public.

OASIS contains a wide variety of data sources, including the Ohio and Kentucky Health Issues Polls, the Community Health Status Survey, and the Student Drug Use Survey, among many others.

OASIS is made up of three main components: In the Guided Analysis feature, which is intended for novice statistical users, OASIS automatically chooses the appropriate statistical procedures for analyzing user-selected variables. The User-Defined Analysis feature of OASIS allows more experienced statistical users to select the type of analysis they wish to perform on selected variables. OASIS' Mapping component uses GIS (geographic information system) software to generate maps that analyze and present information that is tied to locations on the surface of the earth.

OASIS puts powerful analysis tools in the hands of the general public by allowing users to perform sophisticated data analysis without needing statistical software on their computers. Getting started with OASIS is simple. Go to http://www.oasisdataarchive.org/, register for an account, and log in. Once logged in, you will have access to a large amount of data from local and state health surveys. In addition to the online user interface, OASIS provides data in several different formats, allowing users to download data for their own personal use in programs such as SAS and SPSS. OASIS is free to all users.