By

Akumengwa Neba N.

HS12A001Department of Public Health an Hygiene

MPH 611

Health Information System (HIS): Its

Importance and Components

OutlineIntroduction GoalObjectivesImportance of HISComponents of HISAssessment of HISConclusion Recommendations

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Introduction

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Goal

Improve participant’s knowledge on health information system.

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General objective

To highlight different aspects of a health information system

Specific objectives To define terms related to health information systems.To outline the importance of a health information

systemTo identify the various components of a health

information systemTo describe the how a health information system is

assessed

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Definitions Information SystemProvide specific information support to the decision-making process at each level of an organization (Winter, A. 2010)

Health Information System (HIS) An information processing and storing

subsystem of a health care organization.(Ibid)

May be a single institution(a hospital) or a group of health care institutions (health care network)7

Importance of a Health Information System  Produces information needed byPatients, communities, service providers,

programme managers, policy-makers, providers of funds, global agencies and organizations Information used for Better management, assess coverage

and quality of services; costs and expenditures.

Detect and control emerging and endemic health problems

Monitor progress towards health goals; and promote equity.

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Importance of a Health Information SystemStrengthen the evidence base for

effective health policies Improve management related to

mobilizing new resources and ensure accountability of their use.

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Components of a HIS Inputs HIS resources

Processes Indicators Data sources Data management

Output Information products Dissemination and use10

Components of a HIS cont….HIS resourceLegislative, regulatory and planning frameworksPersonnel, finances, logistics support, and ICTs. IndicatorsDeterminants of health; health system inputs,

outputs and outcomes.Data sources Censuses, civil registration and population

surveys Individual records, service records and

resource records

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Components of a HIS cont….Data managementData collection, storage, quality-assurance

and flow, processing, compilation and analysis

Information productsData transformed into information for

evidence and knowledge to shape health action

Dissemination and useMaking information readily accessible to

decision-makers Communities

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Assessment of a HIS Health Metrics Network tool

Use to assess components of HIS on a scale

of 0-100%

0-24%=not adequate

25-49%= present but not adequate

50-74%= adequate

75-100%= highly adequate

(WHO; HMN framework 2005)13

Assessment of HIS cont….Cameroons HIS

Assessment outcome 2007 places HIS at

45% i.e…..

Characterized by

Personnel with inadequate knowledge on

HIS.

Untimely and failure to report data

Inadequate resources14

Conclusion Better and stronger HIS can resolved

inadequacies in health systems.

Awareness of the importance and

components of a HIS is a prerequisite to all

those involved with its activities

Self -assessment of HIS is necessary for its

strengthening and use for better decisions

and better health.15

Recommendations Sensitization of stakeholders involved

with the HIS on its importance and components

Assignment of skilled personnel to the HIS unit accompanied by better remuneration

The dissemination and use of information from the system for decision-making.

More emphasis on electronic than paper-based data reporting

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ReferencesWinter A. Haux R. Ammenwerth E. Brigl B. Hellrung N. Jahn F. Health Information Systems-

Architectures And Strategies. Health informatics, e-ISBN 978-1-84996-441-8. 2. Ed .London:

Springer-Verlag London Limited: 2010. http://store.freecollege.org/noleech1.php (accessed

29 Jan 2014).

Health Metrics Network. Version 4.00. Framework and standards for country health information systems: Assessing national HIS information dissemination and use. Geneva, World Health Organization: 2008.

Lippeveld, Theo, R. Sauerborn, and C. Bodart. Design and Implementation of Health

Information Systems. Health Information System Module. Geneva: WHO. 2000.

World Health Organisation. Components of a strong health information system. A guide to the health metrics network framework. Geneva, World Health Organization: 2008

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I HOPE THIS WAS INFORMATIVE

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

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