Inland Empire Health Plan Celebrates Third Esri GIS Award for Excellence in Data Management

Inland Empire Health Plan Wins Third Esri GIS Award

Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) has made headlines by clinching its third consecutive award from Esri, a leading Geographic Information System (GIS) software company. This recognition in the Special Achievement in GIS category underscores IEHP's commitment to leveraging innovative technology for enhancing healthcare services. The award ceremony was part of Esri’s annual User Conference, which took place from July 14-18 in San Diego, California.

During this prestigious event, IEHP stood out among hundreds of applicants across the globe, being one of only twelve organizations in California to receive this honor. Notably, IEHP was the sole representative from the Hospitals and Health Systems sector at the event. This accolade reflects the health plan's ongoing efforts to incorporate advanced GIS technology into its business practices, especially in managing extensive member and provider data.

IEHP’s success can be attributed to its innovative strategies in employing GIS platforms like ArcGIS and Power BI to handle large datasets effectively. Eric Dick, an Informaticist at IEHP, expressed pride in this achievement, stating, "This award is a reflection of how well supported we are by the organization from the top down. Our work would not be possible without the support from our leadership."

The health plan utilized Power BI's mapping capabilities to create interactive visualizations that effectively demonstrate member population density and the patient-to-provider ratio across its service areas. Such maps played a critical role in the strategic development and implementation of various programs and services aimed at enhancing patient care.

Darren Moser, another Informaticist at IEHP, shared insights about the challenges of managing extensive data, noting that the health plan serves a member population of approximately 1.5 million. He explained, "We are capable of processing such vast amounts of data through our developed Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) process. This has enabled us to present clear, complex visualizations using a tile mosaic hexagon tool, which adjusts data seamlessly based on our requirements."

The future looks bright for the integration of GIS technology within IEHP's operations. Both Moser and Dick have been active in educating their peers about the value of GIS and its potential advancements. As they look forward, insights into integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are also on the table. Dick noted, "As technology continues to progress, we continue to look for new ways to integrate it into GIS solutions."

IEHP has a storied history of recognition and a clear vision of enhancing healthcare access for its members. Founded in 1996, the organization has grown to become one of the largest Medicaid health plans in the United States, supporting over 1.5 million residents from Riverside and San Bernardino counties. For five consecutive years, IEHP has also been designated as a Great Place To Work®, reinforcing its commitment to organizational excellence and employee satisfaction.

To find out more about the Inland Empire Health Plan and their mission-driven approach to healthcare, visit their website at iehp.org. IEHP's focus remains clear: creating optimal care and vibrant health in their communities, an aspiration that resonates throughout their operations and recognition by industry leaders.