• The following six types of information systems are essential for the delivery of high-quality primary health care. As described below, each type of system plays a critical role in ensuring that the right type of data is available to the right stakeholders at the right time to make informed decisions about PHC planning and service delivery. 

    1. Civil registration and vital statistics systems: Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems are a type of information system that registers all births and deaths, issues birth and death certificates, and compiles and disseminates vital statistics, including cause-of-death information.  CRVS systems may also record other events such as marriage, divorce, adoption and legitimation. CRVS systems generate administrative data that are used across multiple sectors and which can be compiled to serve as the basis for databases such as population registers that play a vital role in PHC service delivery. CRVS systems provide routine, up-to-date fertility and mortality data for a population which can be used to establish the foundation for many health policies and provides a meaningful denominator for monitoring and evaluation of the burden of disease data. CRVS systems are particularly critical for ensuring that PHC systems can Adjust to Population Health Needs and for effective Population Health Management.5
    2. Routine Health Management Information Systems: Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) are facility reporting systems used to collect routine data from public, private, and community-level health facilities and institutions. Well-designed HMIS provide data on health status, health services, and health resources at the health facility level that can be used to support evidence-informed planning, management, and decision making and the facility and administrative levels.467 This goes beyond simple monitoring and evaluation to facilitate the active collection and assessment of Service data“Service data are data generated at the facility level and include key outputs from routine reporting on the services and care offered and the treatments administered.”. HMIS systems should be integrated into a national/sub-national monitoring framework built on a standardized list of service delivery indicators and definitions, called a Data dictionaryA data dictionary is made up of a standardized list of indicators and definitions that are built into a national or sub-national monitoring framework to ensure that all users of an HMIS are defining and measuring indicators in the same way.. 
    3. Personal care records: Personal care records are information systems that are used to provide a longitudinal health history of patients to facilitate the provision of High-Quality Primary Health Care services. Comprehensive personal care records include unique patient identification (ID), problem lists, care history and notes, medication lists and allergies, referrals and results of referrals, and laboratory, radiology and other test results.8910 Well-designed personal care record systems continuously collect and coordinate information that is reliable, timely, up-to-date, and comprehensive. Personal care records can be paper-based or electronic, however, the use of Electronic health or eHealth“eHealth involves a broad group of activities that use electronic means to deliver health-related information, resources and services: it is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for health.” helps to improve management of patient care.9 Regardless of the format used, to empower patients and health care providers to ensure the delivery of high-quality person-centered care, personal care records must be sufficiently accessible to both patients and providers.9
    4. Logistics Management Information Systems: Logistic Management Information Systems (LMIS) are records systems that supply chain workers and managers use to collect, organize, present, and use logistics data about the supply and demand for commodities. Logistics data includes information about the quantification, procurement, inventory management, and storage and transportation of essential drugs and commodities. Effective LMIS gather data across all levels of the health system to support informed decision making and supply chain management. 11 12
    5. Financial management information system: Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) are a system used to manage and track the flow of funds at the facility level, including expenditure, staff, line-item budgets, internally generated funds, and reimbursed pooled payments.13 They are a facility-level tool managers use to improve the strategic allocation of resources, minimize waste and align spending for operational efficiency, establish credibility of the budgets, and improve service delivery.13
    6. Health surveillance information systems: Health surveillance information systems generate the information needed for effective Surveillance, including  detecting, reporting, and responding to specific notifiable conditions and events.14  Surveillance systems are multimodal networks that bring together information from facilities and communities with a focus on defining emerging and existing population health needs and providing a basis for timely and appropriate response across the health system. 481516

  • The most effective information systems are entirely interoperable and interconnected: 17181920

    • Interoperability is the ability of different information systems, processes, devices, or applications to connect, in a coordinated manner, within and across organizational or geographic boundaries to access, exchange and cooperatively use data amongst stakeholders, with the goal of optimizing the health of individuals and populations. 20
    • Interconnectedness refers to the facilitated linkage or connection of all constituent parts of the information system. This refers to the connection of information system components—data systems, detection, reporting, and investigative activities, and feedback loops—within a sub-national health system network, and the linkage between different sub-national health system networks. 

    Information systems can be either paper-based or electronic. While much can be accomplished with paper-based systems, it is difficult to achieve InteroperabilityInteroperability is the ability of different information systems, processes, devices, or applications to connect in a coordinated manner, within and across organizational or geographic boundaries to access, exchange and cooperatively use data amongst stakeholders to respond to disease instances, with the goal of optimizing the health of individuals and populations. and InterconnectednessInterconnectedness refers to the facilitated linkage or connection of all constituent parts of the information system. This refers to the connection of information system components—data systems, detection, reporting, and investigative activities, and feedback loops—within a sub-national health system network, and the linkage between different sub-national health system networks. with exclusively paper-based systems. 21 To promote the development of information systems that are comprehensive, reliable, scaleable, accessible, interoperable, and interconnected, countries should work to move from paper-based to electronic systems. 2122 (Users can find more information about digital and e-Health strategies in the National eHealth Strategy Toolkit and the WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health.) 

    The transition from paper-based to electronic information systems represents an ambitious goal for many countries. In the interim there are many important improvements that can be made even to paper-based systems. In particular, there are five general characteristics common to strong information systems that support the delivery of high-quality PHC that can be achieved regardless of whether the systems are electronic: 23 

    1. Well-defined: To ensure that information systems capture data that is timely, reliable, comprehensive, and relevant to the needs of the population, information systems should be implemented with standard operating procedures for data collection and analysis. This includes using standard data sources and data dictionaries that define a standardized list of Health indicatorsHealth indicators are quantifiable characteristics of a population that provide information on the population health situation, such as information related to health status, risk factors, service coverage, and health systems (i.e. quality and safety of care or utilization and access). that are built into national or subnational monitoring frameworks to ensure that all users of the information system are defining and measuring indicators in the same way. 8
    2. Comprehensive: To support the core principles of CoordinationCoordinated care includes organizing the different elements of patient care throughout the course of treatment and across various sites of care to ensure appropriate follow-up treatment, minimize the risk of error, and prevent complications. Coordination of care happens across levels of care as well as across time, and often requires proactive outreach on the part of health care teams as well as informational continuity. , Continuity“Continuity is the degree to which a series of discrete healthcare events are experienced as coherent and connected and consistent with the patient’s medical needs and personal context.” Three types of continuity are considered to be important for primary care: relational continuity, informational continuity, and management continuity., comprehensiveness, and patient-centeredness, information systems should comprehensively capture and monitor all health services and functions across all levels of the health system.
    3. Functional: To ensure that information systems are consistently used to support effective decision-making for health, their design and functionality should:
      1. Be accessible and user-friendly for all levels of the health workforce
      2. Fit efficiently and intuitively into existing workflows
      3. Use technology appropriate for the context.
      4. Have plans and systems in place to ensure data quality, appropriate data communication and use, and appropriate training for health workers. 
    4. Resilient: To support the capacity of the health system to adapt and respond to population health needs, information systems should be able to withstand social, political, and biological crises. Mechanisms such as data backup systems and systems for operationalizing learnings from past crises, coordination with other health system functions, and regular performance assessments help to build resilient information systems. 3 
    5. Adaptable and scalable:  A strong information system is adaptable and scalable, or able to be redesigned, reformed, expanded, and rolled out at all levels of the health system. Information systems that are readily adaptable and scalable embody the above four characteristics and are interoperable and integrate with existing in-country platforms. Additionally, adaptability and scalability depend on having clear standards and decision-making structures regarding health information systems and a well-defined sustainability plan for ensuring necessary financing for, training in, and monitoring and evaluation of the system. You can read more about building in-country capacity in the adaptable and scalable section of MEASURE Evaluation’s what are the characteristics of a strong health information system? 

    Strengthening information systems requires leadership and good management, governance of policies and procedures, public trust, financial support, and a skilled workforce. 23 For this reason, it is important that information systems are aligned with national priorities and local needs with a clear policy direction, financial support, and skills training to ensure their successful implementation and ongoing functionality. 2425 More information on developing strong information systems can be found in the tools and resources section of this module.

  • Information systems are important for effective, high-quality PHC at the policy, management, and service delivery levels:

    • At the policy level, the information generated from well-functioning information systems supports the capacity of the health system to sense and adapt to emerging and existing population health needs, create effective health policies, monitor health equity, and build health system resilience. 3 Information systems are essential for collecting indicators and evaluating progress in evidence-based priority setting and surveillance systems. In addition to supporting adjustment to population health needs, data captured and transferred in information systems play a role in assessing health financing needs and strategies.
    • At the facility and sub-national management levels, routine use of HMIS, LMIS, and FMIS to establish targets, monitor progress, and implement ongoing improvement initiatives supports effective facility organization and management, including the availability, control, and appropriate management of drugs and supplies, facility infrastructure, workforce, and funds.
    • At the service delivery level, information systems such as personal care records and civil registration and vital statistics systems collect critical information on local population health that supports evidence-informed decision making and the provision of high-quality PHC services. 26 In particular, well-functioning information systems empower and engage patients, improve communication among team members, and improve continuity and coordination of care. 192728

    Effective health information systems are comprehensive and capture data about health services at all levels of the health system. However, often health information systems are lacking data about PHC or do not enable data to be disaggregated by type or level of service. In order for health information systems to support PHC as described above, it is critical that they not only embody the characteristics of strong information systems but that they also include PHC-specific indicators--such as those included in the PHC Vital Signs Profile--and be designed in a way that enables disaggregation of data to track the capacity and performance of PHC specifically. The Joint Learning Network and PHCPI’s guide on measuring the performance of PHC provides practical guidance and tools for countries on how to do so.

  • Service data: “Service data are data generated at the facility level and include key outputs from routine reporting on the services and care offered and the treatments administered.” 4 

    Interoperability: Interoperability is the ability of different information systems, processes, devices, or applications to connect in a coordinated manner, within and across organizational or geographic boundaries to access, exchange and cooperatively use data amongst stakeholders to respond to disease instances, with the goal of optimizing the health of individuals and populations. 20

    Interconnectedness: Interconnectedness refers to the facilitated linkage or connection of all constituent parts of the information system. This refers to the connection of information system components—data systems, detection, reporting, and investigative activities, and feedback loops—within a sub-national health system network, and the linkage between different sub-national health system networks. 8

    Data dictionary: A data dictionary is made up of a standardized list of indicators and definitions that are built into a national or sub-national monitoring framework to ensure that all users of an HMIS are defining and measuring indicators in the same way. 8

    Continuity: “Continuity is the degree to which a series of discrete healthcare events are experienced as coherent and connected and consistent with the patient’s medical needs and personal context.” Three types of continuity are considered to be important for primary care: relational continuity, informational continuity, and management continuity. 19 

    Coordination: Coordinated care includes organizing the different elements of patient care throughout the course of treatment and across various sites of care to ensure appropriate follow-up treatment, minimize the risk of error, and prevent complications. Coordination of care happens across levels of care as well as across time, and often requires proactive outreach on the part of health care teams as well as informational continuity. 29

    Health indicators: Health indicators are quantifiable characteristics of a population that provide information on the population health situation, such as information related to health status, risk factors, service coverage, and health systems (i.e. quality and safety of care or utilization and access). 30

    Electronic health (eHealth): “eHealth involves a broad group of activities that use electronic means to deliver health-related information, resources and services: it is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for health.” 31

What questions should be asked to begin improvements? 

Effective information systems use data to provide timely, accurate, and complete information for informed decision-making for health. The questions below may be a useful starting place for assessing the performance of information systems in your context, determining whether information systems is an appropriate area of focus for improvement efforts, and brainstorming how one might begin to plan and enact reforms.

How comprehensive are your health information systems?

Comprehensive information systems report and use a broad spectrum of health-related data from both the public and private sectors, and other relevant non-health sectors. Comprehensive information systems integrate data from the following types of systems across different levels of the health system and different types of facilities: HMIS, surveillance information systems, patient medical records, FMIS, LMIS, and civil registration and vital statistics. To get started, you might consider:

  • How are the different types of information systems used? 

  • If not all types of information systems are being fully utilized, are there plans in place to develop or enhance these systems? 

  • What types of data sources are used (i.e. facility-based or informal)? 

  • Are these systems interoperable and interconnected?

Do your information systems capture essential PHC indicators and enable tracking of PHC capacity and performance?

In order for information systems to support strong PHC service delivery it is critical that they be designed to capture and report on PHC-specific indicators and PHC performance. To determine whether your system does this effectively, you might consider:

How interoperable and interconnected is your health information system?

Information systems are considered interoperable when the same information is captured in the same or similar format and channels are established such that information can be exchanged, triangulated across data sources, and used across multiple sectors. To assess the interoperability and interconnectedness of information systems in your country, you might consider:

  • Is there a platform in place to integrate and manage the different types of information systems in your country? (i.e. DHIS2) Is this cost-effective, secure, and easy to use? Is this platform fully digitized?

  • Are there data quality standards in place that are appropriately regulated and enforced to ensure standardized quality and use?

  • Does information follow patients as they move geographically or between different levels of the system?

Is the format of your information system electronic-based, paper-based, or somewhere in between?

While much can be accomplished with paper-based systems, the most effective information systems are fully digitized and interoperable across all levels of care. To get started on the transition from paper-based to fully electronic in your country, you might consider:

  • What elements of information systems in your country are electronic vs. paper-based?

  • Is there variation in the format used, for example by geographic region, level-of-care, type of facility, or type of information system?

  • Are there policies and plans in place to support investments in infrastructure that supports electronic information system use, for example skills training, modernized technologies, and necessary facility infrastructure?

Is the design and functionality of information systems compatible with the needs and skills of users across all levels of the health system?

In order for information systems to be useful and used, they must be designed to ensure that that they are user-friendly and intuitive for all types of health workers and decision makers and that they can be easily and efficiently incorporated into workflows. Additionally, the intended users of information systems need appropriate and ongoing training in how to effectively and efficiently use information systems. To get started in assessing your system’s performance, you might consider:

  • Do information systems have a user friendly structure and fit efficiently and intuitively into existing workflows with and clearly-defined standards (i.e. standard operating procedures for data collection, analysis, and use) and principles to ensure standardization of data quality and use? 

  • Are information communication technologies suitable to the local context? If not, are systems in place to train and capacitate health workers to appropriately and effectively use new technologies to perform their duties associated with the collection of health data, data analysis, and data use? 

  • Is the information produced by the different types of information systems in your country complete, accurate, and accessible to relevant users at the right place at the right time? Is it in a format that users can easily review and use to support quality, continuous, and coordinated care (i.e. identify and follow trends, address gaps in care, etc.)?

Case studies for Information Systems

Information Systems Ireland

Ireland launched its national eHealth Strategy in 2013 to transform its health information system and keep pace with the rapid global proliferation of technology using patient-centered, information-based eHealth solutions. Key eHealth initiatives at the core of Ireland’s reform seek to leverage the potential of innovative digital technologies to empower patients and healthcare workers by way of greater transparency, access to services, and information.
Read The Case Study

Information Systems Bangladesh

In 2009, Bangladesh introduced DHIS2 as the national health information management system to improve the integration and interoperability of different health information systems and to make the data produced by these systems more accessible and reliable to both data producers and users.
Read The Case Study

Tools & Resources

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  • Efficiency and cost-effectiveness
  • Responsiveness to people
  • NCDs and mental health

Health systems strengthening chapter 3: health information systems WHO, 2010

This document provides countries with support to assess and strengthen health information system performance. Specifically, it helps countries develop a monitoring strategy to track progress and performance and ensure accountability and understand the core indicators and methods that can be used to assess health information system performance related to the generation, analysis, synthesis, and validation of health data.
Tags: Principles, Health Management Information Systems, Monitoring and evaluation
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PAHO and WHO IS4H Maturity Model PAHO and WHO, 2018

The IS4H Maturity Model was developed by PAHO and WHO to help member states assess the maturity levels of their information system for health and the capability of public health organizations and technology to operate, interact, and benefit from information systems. Specifically, the model analyzes the maturity of information management processes, information governance readiness, open government initiatives, and knowledge management process adoption. This resource includes a standard-assessment and self-assessment tool to help users apply the model.
Tags: Health Management Information Systems, Principles
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Management of patient information: trends and challenges in member states WHO, 2012

This report examines the adoption and use of patient information systems and reviews data standards and legal protection for patient data based on the results of a global survey. It provides countries with a list of steps that can be taken to facilitate the implementation of effective patient information systems. Specifically, the guideline prioritizes the adoption of open-source, standards-based software platforms, data exchange standards, clear patient privacy and security legislation, and appropriate training for health informatics professionals.
Tags: Personal care records
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Health statistics and information systems: civil registration and vital statistics page WHO

This webpage provides information related to health statistics and information systems, with links to relevant tools and resources. It guides users through key topics related to civil registration and vital statistics including statistics, innovation and technology, country monitoring and evaluation, and monitoring universal health coverage.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics, Monitoring and evaluation
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Global Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Scaling up Investment Plan 2015 - 2024 WHO and the World Bank, 2014

This Global Scaling Up Investment Plan was prepared by the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization with input from several agencies and countries. It provides users with an overview of civil registration and vital statistics, the current global state, and a scaling-up plan that includes national CRVS strengthening, international support for CRVS, and sharing knowledge and building the evidence base.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics
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Strengthening civil registration and vital statistics for births, deaths and causes of death: resource kit WHO, 2012

This resource kit is designed to support countries in planning and implementing improvements to their civil registration and vital statistics systems. It uses a standards-based and country-driven approach to support countries through the process of assessing the performance of CRVS systems and developing evidence-based improvement plans. In particular, the kit helps to enable users to identify, locate, and make use of the core standards, tools, and materials needed to build stronger and more efficient CRVS systems.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics
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Improving the quality and use of birth, death and cause-of-death information: guidance for a standards-based review of country practices WHO, 2010

This guidance tool provides users with comprehensive guidance on how to evaluate the quality and functioning of CRVS systems. The resources available here include a detailed assessment and rapid assessment tool, designed to help users obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their CRVS system and strategic options for improvement.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics, Monitoring and evaluation
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Rapid assessment of national civil registration and vital statistics systems WHO, 2010

This rapid assessment tool consists of 25 questions that can be used to quickly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a country’s current CRVS system. This rapid assessment tool has been developed to accompany the comprehensive guide, “Improving the quality and use of birth, death and cause-of-death information: guidance for a standards-based review of country practices.”
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics, Monitoring and evaluation
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Principles and recommendations for a vital statistics system: revision 3 United Nations, 2014

This resource was developed by the UN Statistics Division to provide guidance on establishing a functioning system for collecting, processing and disseminating vital statistics. In particular, the guide provides users with information related to improving sources of vital statistics and practical recommendations for quality assurance.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics
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Improving mortality statistics through civil registration and vital statistics system WHO, 2014

This document offers guidance on strategies for strengthening national CRVS plans, with a focus on mortality and cause-of-death statistics. Specifically, the document summarizes key mortality-related indicators, the strengths and limitations of different data sources, and the best options for generating mortality statistics. It concludes with priority actions and recommendations for strengthening CRVS based on country starting points and capacities.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics
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ICD-11 Training Tool WHO, 2016

International classification of disease (ICD) is the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions and is used as the diagnostic classification standard for all clinical and research purposes. This training tool is designed to build country capacity for implementing ICD and is designed for self-learning and classroom use. It describes the structure of the classification and statistical coding according to ICD criteria and comes with a quick reference guide for determining cause of death on the death certificate in line with ICD-11.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics
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Application of ICD-10 for low-resource settings initial cause of death collection: The Start-up Mortality List (ICD-10-SMoL) WHO, 2014

The Start-Up Mortality List (SMoL) was developed in line with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10th Revision) to provide a succinct and easy tool that countries can use as a first step towards standardized reporting of causes of death in low-resource settings where capacities to code causes of death to ICD 3- or 4-digits are lacking. It can be used to support public health priority setting and tracking progress toward national and international targets and goals.
Tags: Civil registration and vital statistics
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A system of health accounts (2017 revised edition) OECD, Eurostat, and WHO, 2017

The system of health accounts (SHA 2011) is a statistical reference manual giving a comprehensive description of the financial flows in health care. It provides a set of revised classifications of health care functions, providers of health care goods, and services and financing schemes. Specifically, the SHA classifications build on common concepts, boundaries, definitions and accounting rules for measuring consumption of health care goods and services. The SHA can be used as a basis for better data collection on health expenditure to guide the successful implementation of national health accounts.
Tags: Financial management information systems
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Routine Health Information Systems: A curriculum on basic concepts and practice USAID, Measure Evaluation, and WHO, 2017

This curriculum offers training for strengthening routine health information systems in low- and middle-income countries. It is intended to be used to build capacity to conceptualize, design, develop, govern, and manage a routine health information system that generates information that can be used to improve public health practice and service delivery.
Tags: Health Management Information Systems
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Health management information systems (HMIS) webpage MEASURE Evaluation

This webpage provides an overview of health management information systems strengthening, facilitation, and use. It offers users practical guidance on the design, management, and implementation of health management information systems paired with training materials to support implementation.
Tags: Health Management Information Systems
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Health information systems strengthening: standards and best practices USAID and MEASURE Evaluation, 2018

USAID and MEASURE Evaluation developed this guide to help stakeholders align their information systems with international standards and best practices. The modules provide a reference guide for 12 different HIS data sources, including individual health records, logistics management information systems, financial management information systems, public health surveillance systems, and civil registration and vital statistics systems.
Tags: Principles, Personal care records, Logistics management information systems, Financial management information systems, Surveillance systems, Civil registration and vital statistics, Monitoring and evaluation
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Financial management information systems brief The World Bank, 2019

This brief provides users with an overview of financial management information systems and links to relevant tools and resources including an FMIS data mapper, FMIS world map, and an FMIS Community of Practice.
Tags: Financial management information systems
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Financial management information systems and open budget data: do governments report on where the money goes? World Bank, 2013

This study examines the effects of FMIS on publishing open budget data and provides governments with guidance on the effective use of FMIS platforms to support improvements in the accuracy, timeliness, and reliability of budget reporting.
Tags: Financial management information systems
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Joint External Evaluation Tool: International Health Regulations (2005) WHO, 2016

This evaluation tool was designed to assess country capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to public health threats. It is intended to be used through a joint external evaluation process to measure country-specific status and progress in achieving the targets of effective surveillance and response, including an assessment of health surveillance information systems. The external evaluation allows countries to assess their capacity to detect and rapidly respond to public health threats, facilitate a transparent multi-partner response to identify the most urgent health needs in the health security system, and prioritize opportunities for preparedness, response, and action.
Tags: Surveillance systems, Monitoring and evaluation
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Factors that influence the implementation of e-Health: a systematic review of systematic reviews Ross et al., 2016

This review provides a synthesis of the literature on e-health implementation across a diverse array of healthcare settings and introduces readers to an accessible and useful guide for planning implementation of e-health strategies.
Tags: Health Management Information Systems
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Measuring the performance of primary health care: a practical guide for translating data into improvement Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage, 2018

“This toolkit provides practical guidance, tools, and links to other resources to support countries in collecting better, more useful data on PHC system performance and using the data to improve performance. Depending on a country’s measurement capacity and unique priorities, the toolkit can be used routinely or at strategic points” to help with strategies such as understanding PHC performance measurement across program areas and system functions, addressing measurement gaps in important service delivery areas, and communicating data effectively to relevant stakeholders through targeted data analysis and visualization.
Tags: Principles, Monitoring and evaluation
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Health information systems strengthening: resource center MEASURE Evaluation

Designed for health professionals and policy makers, this website provides access to tools, resources, and information on health information systems strengthening including country profiles and assessment tools.
Tags: Principles
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Supply chain manager’s handbook: a practical guide to the management of health commodities John Snow Inc, 2017

This handbook draws on the lessons and knowledge of experienced global supply chain experts to provide governments and private and public sector partners with a practical, cost-effective guide for supply chain management for essential health commodities. Especially relevant is the chapter on information systems for data visibility and use, which includes information on data selection, collection, visibility, quality, and use for logistics management information systems.
Tags: Logistics management information systems
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Information systems for supply chain management John Snow Inc, 2017

This position paper explores how to combine the applications of separate information systems, namely Routine Health Information Systems and Logistics Management Information Systems, to capture more robust, comprehensive data. Using dedicated, fit-for-purpose software solutions for each system, the integration process described in this paper identifies opportunities to make distinct applications interoperable at the point of care and policy level to improve the efficiency and overall management of the health system.
Tags: Logistics management information systems
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Easing the Data Collection Burden on Healthcare Providers by Strengthening Health Information Systems MEASURE Evaluation, 2017

"This paper—one of a series developed by MEASURE Evaluation—explores how to improve HIS to address the burden of data collection that falls to healthcare providers. The aim is to discover ways to help providers collect good-quality data without compromising the care they give to their clients. This paper reviews what we can discern thus far, through a review of literature and our own experience, and it provides a series of recommendations for data collection and HIS."
Tags: Principles
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Health in the 21st Century - Putting Data to Work for Stronger Health Systems - en - OECD OECD Health Policy Studies 2019

"This report explores how data and digital technology can help achieve policy objectives and drive positive transformation in the health sector while managing new risks such as privacy, equity and implementation costs. It examines the following topics: improving service delivery models; empowering people to take an active role in their health and their care; improving public health; managing biomedical technologies; enabling better collaboration across borders; and improving health system governance and stewardship. It also examines how health workforces should be equipped to make the most of digital technology. The report contains findings from surveys of OECD countries and shares a range of examples that illustrate the potential benefits as well as challenges of the digital transformation in the health sector. Findings and recommendations are relevant for policymakers, health care providers, payers, industry as well as patients, citizens and civil society."
Tags: Principles, Digital technologies, Efficiency and cost-effectiveness
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Health Information Systems Interoperability Maturity Toolkit MEASURE Evaluation, 2020

"The HIS interoperability maturity model identifies the major components of HIS interoperability and lays out an organization’s growth pathway through these components. Countries can use the assessment tool to determine their HIS interoperability maturity level systematically. Using the assessment results, countries can create a path toward strengthening their HIS interoperability and building resilient systems."
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INDEPTH Network INDEPTH Network

"We are a global network of health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs) that provide a more complete picture of the health status of communities. Since they collect data from whole communities over extended time periods, they more accurately reflect health and population problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The HDSSs increasingly link population and health facility data to implement the new Comprehensive Health and Epidemiological Surveillance System (CHESS)."
Tags: Surveillance systems, Responsiveness to people
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Knowledge Action Portal: Digital Health WHO/KAP

"The Knowledge Action Portal (KAP) is a flagship online community-driven platform launched by the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (WHO GCM/NCD). The KAP presents users with an innovative way to enhance global understanding, interaction, and engagement across sectors for the purpose of fulfilling existing - and initiating new - commitments to noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention and control."
Tags: Digital technologies, NCDs and mental health
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SCORE for Health Data Technical Package WHO, 2020

"The new SCORE for Health Data Technical Package forms the cornerstone of WHO’s efforts to strengthen health information systems worldwide, and countries’ capacity to generate, analyse and use health data (i.e. health status and health intervention). The package is published during one of the most data-strained public health crisis responses ever – that of the COVID-19 pandemic2 – which is placing a huge burden on already overstretched health and health-related data systems worldwide. The SCORE for Health Data Technical Package can guide countries to take action by providing a one-stop shop for best technical practices that strengthen health information systems, using universally accepted standards and tools."
Tags: Principles, Monitoring and evaluation
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PHCPI is a partnership dedicated to transforming the global state of primary health care, beginning with better measurement. While the content on this website represents the position of the partnership as a whole, it does not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any partner organization.

References:

  1. Yazdi-Feyzabadi V, Emami M, Mehrolhassani MH. Health Information System in Primary Health Care: The Challenges and Barriers from Local Providers’ Perspective of an Area in Iran. Int J Prev Med. 2015 Jul 6;6:57.
  2. MEASURE Evaluation. Defining Health Information Systems — MEASURE Evaluation [Internet]. [cited 2019 Apr 15]. Available from: https://www.measureevaluation.org/his-strengthening-resource-center/his-definitions/defining-health-information-systems
  3. WHO. Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systems. World Health Organization; 2012. Available from: https://www.who.int/healthinfo/country_monitoring_evaluation/who-hmn-framework-standards-chi.pdf
  4. WHO. Monitoring the building blocks of health systems: health information systems. World Health Organization; 2010. Available from: https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/WHO_MBHSS_2010_full_web.pdf
  5. WHO. SCORE to reach your health goals technical package.[in press].
  6. MEASURE Evaluation. Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) [Internet]. [cited 2019 Aug 29]. Available from: https://www.measureevaluation.org/resources/training/capacity-building-resources/health-management-information-systems-hmis-1
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How to use this Model

Brief Overview
Each section includes core principles and relevant background on the topic to help stakeholders understand how this topic relates to other parts of the health system and how to begin improvements.

In-depth exploration
Each section links to various external resources including research papers, toolkits, and implementation guides for readers who would like to learn more.

Diagnostic 
Countries that have a Vital Signs Profile can use it to identify gaps in their performance and find improvement strategies that are specifically relevant to their context. 

Sharing experience and learning from others 
Throughout the model, there are case studies that provide examples of how other countries have implemented reforms and the factors that supported implementation. Additionally, if you think others can learn from improvements in your country, you can submit your experience using the "share your experience" tab. 

Learn more in the Improvement Strategies user guide.