MapInfo Corporation presented the Department of Health and Hospitals’ Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health with a 2006 Meridian Award for its use of location technology in improving health services.

The Bureau was one of only five worldwide recipients of this award and was honored in the “Changing the World” category.

MapInfo Corporation selected the Bureau for its use of the company’s location intelligence technology as a tool in health planning projects, evaluating health care access issues and developing visual information for consumers.

The Bureau also put the MapInfo technology to use after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to learn the whereabouts of LDH employees, health care facilities and medical professionals by mapping where all had moved and how far from the previous location they were. The Bureau is using this technology as it works with FEMA to determine the availability of health care for people returning to the affected areas.

“The technology from MapInfo has helped us tremendously as we work throughout the Department to restore health care services,” said Bureau Director Kristy H. Nichols. “We are honored to receive this award, and we look forward to continued success with using this technology in future projects.”

For more information about this year's Meridian Award winners, please visit www.mapinfo.com/meridianawardwinners.

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