Care atlases for managing regional healthcare systems

Demographic change is forcing healthcare systems at all levels to replan their care structures. In Salzburg the idea was born to develop a regional cross-sectoral care atlas as an information and planning tool for politicians administrators experts and the population. This book summarizes the basis for this: It uses the literature and three best-practice examples from the USA and Germany to illustrate what geographical representations in health reporting can and cannot achieve and develops a checklist for a good health care atlas. In interviews with experts the opportunities requirements and challenges for a regional cross-sectoral health care atlas for the federal state of Salzburg are identified. The interviews show that a regional project for Salzburg should be started as an interactive online platform on a small scale and continuously developed during operation.