An open-source application for self-service, Health Insurance and Portability Accountability Act-compliant geocoding

Abstract Objective: DeGAUSS is a privacy-preserving application that ingests addresses and generates output that includes latitude, longitude, census tract, deprivation index and drive times to major hospitals. The application uses a complex command line interface and a container management platform to perform analysis. Our objective was to develop a user-friendly DeGAUSS-based application that simplifies place-based analysis. We also enabled automated geomarker generation by providing an API modality to DeGAUSS. Methods: We developed a self-service platform based on the DeGAUSS application. The application was linked to user authentication platforms. The self-service application can be implemented as an API, enabling high-volume geocoding transactions. We surveyed active users for feedback. Results: The self-service geomarker application was deployed at Children’s Mercy and the University of Kansas Medical Center. During the period evaluated, more than 2 million addresses were geocoded for 24 users through the user interface and more than 15 million addresses through the API. Users expressed high satisfaction with the system. All respondents used the census block group feature and the core geocoding. Most respondents, 60%, used the deprivation index and 30% used the drive time feature. Population health and social determinants of health were the most common uses (80% each) followed by health equity analyses (70%). Conclusion: Population health and social determinants of health research require access to precise geographic information about patients or research subjects. The self-service geomarker capability enables users who may not be comfortable with a command line interface to generate geocoded addresses in support of their research and analysis.