Memo to Stovepipeland
Date : November 15, 2012 Subject : Health Metrics of Stovepipeland To : Concerno Datausario Acquisition and Assistance Officer United Districts Agency for International Development (UDAID) Office of Acquisistion and Assistance From : Adityarini Djadir Expert Health Consultant
Introduction
Regarding your previous memo to our office on October 25, 2012, which stated that the Stovepipeland current issues in addressing its Health Information System (HIS). As an expert health consultant, it is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to help the country in addressing its national HIS. With respect to the country HIS improvement, it is important for this country to conduct an assessment of its current HIS. This assessment will enable the country to identify the strengths and weaknesses of its national HIS, which will be used as basic information for the HIS developing matter. Therefore, in this memo, I will give a general description about indicators of a well designed HIS and recommendations for the country related to the HIS improvement and the process for its initial HIS assessment.
A Well-Designed Health Information System
Before Stovepipeland conducting the evaluation of its current HIS and making improvement for the system, it is better to have a better understanding about the components of a well designed HIS. A good quality of HIS; data collection, analysis, dissemination, and use, will support the country National Health System (NHS) by helping the stakeholders to identifying community’s health problems and needs, tracking the progress of health care interventions, evaluating the impact of the services, and making decision about the health policies, programs design, and resource allocation (HMN, 2008). Based on the HMN tool-book (2008), the standard HIS has six components; resources, indicators, data sources, data management, information products, and dissemination and use, which are subdivided into three major components;
Introduction
Regarding your previous memo to our office on October 25, 2012, which stated that the Stovepipeland current issues in addressing its Health Information System (HIS). As an expert health consultant, it is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to help the country in addressing its national HIS. With respect to the country HIS improvement, it is important for this country to conduct an assessment of its current HIS. This assessment will enable the country to identify the strengths and weaknesses of its national HIS, which will be used as basic information for the HIS developing matter. Therefore, in this memo, I will give a general description about indicators of a well designed HIS and recommendations for the country related to the HIS improvement and the process for its initial HIS assessment.
A Well-Designed Health Information System
Before Stovepipeland conducting the evaluation of its current HIS and making improvement for the system, it is better to have a better understanding about the components of a well designed HIS. A good quality of HIS; data collection, analysis, dissemination, and use, will support the country National Health System (NHS) by helping the stakeholders to identifying community’s health problems and needs, tracking the progress of health care interventions, evaluating the impact of the services, and making decision about the health policies, programs design, and resource allocation (HMN, 2008). Based on the HMN tool-book (2008), the standard HIS has six components; resources, indicators, data sources, data management, information products, and dissemination and use, which are subdivided into three major components;
References: Aqil, A. (2008). PRISM Case Studies: Strengthening and Evaluating RHIS. USAID – Measure Evaluation. Aqil, A., Lippeveld, T., & Hozumi, D. (2009). PRISM framework: a paradigm shift for designing, strengthening and evaluating routine health information systems. Health Policy and Planning, 24(3), 217-228. Health Metrics Network. (2008). Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systems [Second Edition]. World Health Organization. Health Metrics Network. (2009). Guidance for the Health Information Systems (HIS) Strategic Planning Process: Steeps, Tools, and Templates for HIS System Design and Strategic Planning, Version 6. Health Metrics Network. Lippeveld, T., Sauerborn, R., & Bodart, C. (Eds.). (2000). Design and implementation of health information systems. Geneva: World Health Organization.