The Optimized Hot Spot Analysis tool can be used to analyze different types of health related information. This workflow could be applied in other ways, such as health care utilization patterns, disease propagation, and infant mortality rates are just a few examples of other ways that you could apply this approach. You could also employ this across other scales of geography.

Create hot spot map

To execute the Optimized Hot Spot Analysis geoprocessing tool, complete the following steps:

1. Browse to the MapsandGeodatabase folder and open the BirthOutcomes.mxd.
2. In ArcMap, in the ArcToolbox window, browse to Spatial Statistics toolbox > Mapping Clusters toolset and open the Optimized Hot Spot Analysis geoprocessing tool.
3. In the Input Features parameter, choose the Low Birth Weight Rate layer.
4. In the Output Features parameter, browse to an output location and type a file name, and then click Save.
5. In the Analysis Field parameter, choose the LOWBTHWGT field.
6. Click OK.

Now you analyze the cold and hot spots and begin to understand what is contributing to those factors, for example, access to care, socioeconomic factors, or chronic conditions.