The Spatial-temporal Cluster Development in the Healthcare Service Industry- An Integrated GIS Approach

This paper examines the clustering patterns and changes in the service industries and healthcare industry in particular in the United States at county scale for the past three decades (1969 to 2000). This study integrates Geographic Information System (GIS) and various spatial-temporal analytical tools to conduct empirical regional economic analysis. The method is built upon a loose-coupling of the GIS module using ArcGIS, and various statistical and temporal analytical modules using Excel, Visual Basic, SPSS, and SAS. This method allows both spatial and temporal analysis of industry clusters and regional economic development. Analytical tools such as the location quotient (LQ) technique and Moran’s I statistics are employed. The paper applies this method to trace and analyze both spatial and temporal clustering patterns in the service industries as a whole and healthcare industry in particular across the sixty-two counties in the New York State over the past three decades.