Influenza
Improving medical staffing response to influenza outbreaks across the United States.
Objective
Improve flu season preparedness by optimizing staffing in healthcare facilities from 2009-2017. The goal was to better support vulnerable populations during peak flu periods.
Data
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Influenza deaths in 2009-2017 sourced from CDC
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Population data from 2009-2017 sourced from US Census Bureau
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Influenza visits from 2010-2019 sourced from CDC (Fluview)
​Skills
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Designing a data research project
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Sourcing, cleaning, and profiling data
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Data integration and transformation
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Statistical hypothesis testing
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Visual analysis and forecasting
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Visualization in Tableau
Tools
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Microsoft Excel
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Microsoft Word
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Tableau
Flu Deaths
The number of flu deaths generally increases with age. This is evident from the overall height of the boxes in the box plot, with the older age groups (65-74, 75-84, 85+) having significantly higher death counts compared to younger age groups.
Impact of Vulnerable population size on mortality rates
A valuable overview of population distribution and the vunerable population in the United States. A larger vulnerable population is associated with increased mortality rates
Correlation between population size and mortality rates
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The graph suggests a positive association between population density and mortality rates, indicating that states with higher
population densities tend to have higher death rates.
Priority Map
The map visually demonstrates that California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida have the highest staffing needs priority, followed by other states
Is Flu Seasonal ?
Flu activity across most states typically peaks during the winter months, from November to March.
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The historical mortality trends from 2009 to 2017 for the top 10 states and presents a forecast for 2018.
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The forecast indicates a projected increase in mortality rates for most of the states in 2018.
Conclusions & Recommendations
​Surveillance and Monitoring
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Create different staffing scenarios based on forecasted demand and resource availability.
Vaccination Access
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Improve access to affordable and convenient vaccination services for all populations, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
Healthcare System Preparedness
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Improve staffing levels and ensure adequate supplies of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
Targeted Interventions
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Implement targeted interventions to protect vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic health conditions.