Is the exploreMOhealth platform available at no cost?
Yes, the platform was developed with funding from the Hospital Industry Data Institute and MHA Health Institute to assist communities, hospitals, public health officials, and other community health stakeholders in identifying health needs and developing actionable community health needs assessments using ZIP code and county-level data.
Is exploreMOhealth available to anyone, or do I need special permissions and/or an account to view the data?
The platform is designed to be a public resource and is available to anyone with an interest in community health. Setting up an optional account allows users to customize their experience by saving geographic areas, health indicators, customized reports, and other features of exploreMOhealth in which they are most interested.
Visit the Registration page to create an account.
How can I understand how my community compares to other communities in the state?
exploreMOhealth offers several options for comparative analysis. First, state-level results are displayed alongside ZIP- and county-level data. Second, ZIP codes are ranked for each domain and subdomain using a unique methodology that was developed with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.
What are the health domains and subdomains included in exploreMOhealth?
The exploreMOhealth platform is based on the population health model used by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The model is comprised of two overarching domains: Health Factors and Health Outcomes. Health Factors are influenced by local policies and programs, and subdomains include Health Behaviors, Clinical Care, Social and Economic Factors, and the Physical Environment. Health Outcomes are influenced by Health Factors, and subdomains include Length of Life and Quality of Life.
What are the data sources for exploreMOhealth?
The platform features demographic data from the U.S. Census and three health-related data sources that are specific to Missouri. The county-level health indicators are provided by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The ZIP-code level data are provided by the Hospital Industry Data Institute and Washington University School of Medicine through the Missouri ZIP Health Rankings Project. More information on the data is available here.
Which date ranges are reflected in the data on exploreMOhealth?
The ZIP code-level data included in the most recent version of the site are based on hospital discharges occurring between fiscal years 2021 and 2023 (October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2023), and the 2022 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census. The previous versions of the ZIP Health Rankings data are also available in the Map Room, or for download.
Can I download a file that I can use with GIS mapping software?
Yes, exploreMOhealth has options to export reports directly to Excel for use in GIS applications, you can also download the entire public-use data file on the About page.
Is the data available by school district, legislative district, or other geographic unit?
The data are available on exploreMOhealth at the county- and ZIP-code levels, however you can identify counties and ZIP codes included within larger geographic areas such as state Senate Districts to compare variation within these areas.
Will I be able to access the platform and data without having to provide personal information?
Yes, the platform is designed to be a public resource, and available to anyone with an interest in community health. Setting up an optional account allows users to customize their experience by saving geographic areas, health indicators, customized reports, and other features that they are most interested in.
How do I contact someone with a question and/or if I have a problem with the site?
Questions on the platform can be submitted at any time to exploreMOhealth@mhanet.com.
Will I be able to see clear labeling, definitions, and data set descriptors regarding limitations/challenges (i.e., collection, monitoring, etc.)?
Yes, the reports generated by exploreMOhealth feature detailed descriptions of the data they contain. Information on the limitations of the ZIP-code data may be found on pages 7-8 of Nagasako, et al. (2018). Additional information on the reliability and statistical uncertainty of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps data is available on the CHR&R Data Quality page.
Will I be able to save my defined service area?
Yes, setting up an exploreMOhealth account allows users to customize their experiences by saving geographic areas, health indicators, customized reports and other features of exploreMOhealth of which they have the most interest.
What is a Z-Score, and how should I interpret this information?
A Z-score is a standardized measure of the number of standard deviations each rate lies from the mean. Positive values indicate a higher than average rate for the ZIP code, while negative values indicate a lower than average rate.
How are the ZIP codes and names determined and how are they assigned to my selected counties?
The ZIP codes used on exploreMOhealth are based on ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, the U.S. Census Bureau’s geographic approximations of U.S. Postal Service ZIP codes.
The name used by the U.S. postal service for each ZIP code is provided for spatial context. In many cases, a ZIP code may encompass additional unnamed communities, however the name of the ZIP code is typically attributed to the largest, and/or most centrally located community within the ZIP code.
ZIP code boundaries overlap county boundaries. By selecting a county or counties, this report includes any ZIP code with at least 10 percent of its population residing within one of the selected counties.
What browser and platform should I use with exploreMOhealth?
We support the latest two stable versions of Firefox, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. The content, formatting and functionality of the site has been optimized for desktop, tablet and mobile devices.