Introduction
The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in health care research has helped shape health care delivery models in variety of ways, including defining health service areas as well as examining spatial pattern of diseases and morbidity (Love 1995; Becker 1998; Kohli 1995) . GIS also allows for the identification of disparities within a publicly funded and ‘equal’ health care system, such as in Canada, by linking geographical features with socio and economical data. Unfortunately many Canadians don’t have equal access to health care services, and consequently face poorer health outcomes (Alter 1999; Dunlop 2000). Access to health care is a multifaceted issue and is commonly defined by both physical and social barriers (Andrulis 1998; Schuurman 2006). Social access, based upon socioecomonic and cultural capacity is perhaps just as important as physical access, such as distance to services or services per area; not having the resources (monetary, language, advocacy and support) and/or being of lower socioeconomic status (SES) acts as a barrier between the individual and the service (Fiscella 2000).