Case Studies

Florida Care

RESEARCH SUPPORTS IMPROVED HEALTHCARE

Mobile solution helps gather data

Situation

In Jacksonville, FL, a growing concern among rehabilitation providers and advocates for the disabled led to a study to discover barriers to accessing preventative breast healthcare for women with disabilities. Inability to access critical healthcare services had often prevented early detection, which in turn can shorten the life span for women with disabilities. The Florida Center for Advocacy, Research and Education saw an opportunity to make a difference and promote changes in delivering healthcare services to women with disabilities. To make that difference, Florida CARE needed evidence-based data across a large metropolitan area, and needed it quickly.

Application

A great deal of data collection was required in a very small window of time. GeoAge supported the Florida CARE project with FAST software, user training and custom development of two data collection forms. Using GeoAge FAST software enabled researchers to avoid errors and inefficiencies associated with collecting data by hand and re-entering the information into a database. The Florida CARE team used HTC 8125 PDAs with FAST software to quickly gather data, upload it via wireless services and the internet, then synthesize all the location-based field data.

Results

Study results quickly identified existing barriers to preventative healthcare for women with disabilities. “Five major areas of barriers were discovered through this data collection and analysis project,” said Debbie Reed and Debra Duran, co-owners of Florida CARE. “We’re confident in the results and that all these barriers will be addressed so that adequate healthcare can be delivered to women with disabilities.” Further studies on preventative breast healthcare are being planned. According to Florida CARE, GeoAge FAST will enable more detailed and focused data collection, both electronically as well as in person, to generate greater opportunities for the disabled, as well as access to the care that they need.