Direct Relief launched today its Direct Relief USA Online Medical Aid Distribution Map, featuring a plotted distribution of more than 1,000 clinics and health centers that receive donated pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.  In addition, interactive healthcare data for more than 18 million uninsured and low-income patients is available.

Combining technologies from SAP, Esri, and Simpler Systems, Direct Relief is able to identify targeted medical needs for low-income, uninsured patients unlike any other nonprofit.

Direct Relief USA – the national branch of Direct Relief – is the only nonprofit program providing free prescription medicines and medical supplies to more than 1,000 community health centers in all 50 states, delivering more than $225 million since 2004. Direct Relief is utilizing three large-scale technology applications for its distribution:

The SAP powered Direct Relief Network gives U.S. community clinic and health center providers direct access to donated medicines and supplies and emergency preparedness inventories; an interactive visual mapping system of the flow of material aid allows for an unparalleled level of transparency and distribution tracking through Esri’s ArcGIS software; and interactive information on healthcare data for more than 18 million uninsured and low-income patients developed in partnership with Simpler Systems.

“We have collected and presented health care data that allows for comprehensive analysis and understanding of healthcare needs for patients who are low-income and lack health insurance,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief since 2000. “We are able to do this by leveraging relationships with leading information technology companies and utilizing their systems for noncommercial use. The combination of these technologies will allow for an increase of resources to flow to this critical group of safety-net providers and their patients.”

According to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data, in 2009 there were 50.7 million people without health insurance in America, 15.4 percent of the total U.S. population, up from 46.3 million in 2008.

Direct Relief is uniquely positioned to distribute targeted medicines and medical supplies to assist community clinics and health centers in providing care to their growing patient populations.

“Efficiency and accuracy are not just goals in Direct Relief’s work, they are expectations,” said Thomas Tighe. “It is imperative that Direct Relief effectively manages and allocates the critical resources entrusted to us to those who need it most.”