BodyViewer

Mapping to the Human Body

BodyViewer, developed by GeoHealth Incorporated (US), lets users map more than 14,000 of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes used to index most known ailments, treatments, and procedures. BodyViewer logically aggregates these ICD-9 codes and displays them graphically as organs and organ systems. The user can build a map showing where these aggregated ICD-9 codes occur geographically.

Example: if one of the cases to be mapped was "myocardial infarction" (ICD), it would be aggregated into the cardiovascular body system. Organs are coloured from light to dark to represent the relative number of ICD codes for that body system. V-codes are ICD codes for non-disease condition or treatment such as a vaccination. E-codes are additional ICD codes used when the medical problem is caused by an accident. More detailed diagrams (classifications) of body systems are also available for detailed mapping; see "urinary system" example below.

BodyViewer proves that maps need not to be only geographical maps. ICD codes of complications and causes of death from electronic patient records, for example, can be mapped on a body systems map and new patterns detected:

Example 1: we might find that location A has got a lower incidence of a certain complication compared to location B, though both locations share the same characteristics and demographics; this might be due to a difference in "practice patterns" à revise and optimise disease management;
Example 2: a certain spatial location might be showing a particularly high incidence of a certain disease condition (as would be shown on the body systems map) and therefore preventive measures need to be tailored in this location to address this specific condition. (Kamel Boulos, 2000)

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This page was last modified December 19, 2000
Module Editor and Web Designer: M.Nabih-Kamel-Boulos@soi.city.ac.uk