Using a simple health care information system for health sector reform and health system management

A guide to using the InHCC health management information system

Shankle, C.G.; Shiroma, M.G.; Gonzalez, J.G. / International Health Care Consultants (InHCC) (2002)

This paper, published by International Health Care Consultants (InHCC), presents a simple health management information system (HMIS) for collecting data to be used in the management of health sector reform policy. The system is intended to be easy to use and inexpensive. It focuses on the collection of information that measures six key dimensions of health system performance: access, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, quality, and sustainability. The paper argues that the information collected can be used not only to guide national policies, but also to direct the day-to-day management of the individual clinic or health centre and provide quality of care to the client.
The paper’s chapters cover: the purpose, definitions and framework for the InHCC system; a description of the system itself; dealing with client, household, and medical system information; and programming the system’s software. The system proposed involves rural clients using a low-cost computer system connected to the internet, and storing data in a centralised "data warehouse". Specialised computer applications for data processing can then be used to provide useful information for decision makers from the local level up to national and international level without the need for further processing.

Available online at: http://www.shetu.com/InHCc-Documentation.pdf