Transcript Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub Vicki Bennett Technical Director Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub School of Population Health University of Queensland Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009

Health Information Systems
Knowledge Hub
Vicki Bennett
Technical Director
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub
School of Population Health
University of Queensland
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Strengthening Health Systems
Through Evidence
• In 2008, AusAID established 4 Knowledge Hubs for
health in leading Australian institutions, addressing
different dimensions of the health system:
– Health Information Systems @ UQ
– Health Policy and Finance @ Nossal Institute
– Human Resources for Health @ UNSW
– Women and Children’s Health:
– The Menzies School of Health Research
– The Burnet Institute
– The Centre for International Child Health
• Joint Steering Committee plus individual Technical
Advisory Groups
• Annual work plans approved by AusAID
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Goal of the Knowledge Hubs
•
To contribute to the quality and effectiveness of
Australia’s engagement in the health sector in the
Asia Pacific region through expanded expertise and
an expanded knowledge base that is of practical
value and used by stakeholders in development.
• The aim is to:
– increase the critical, conceptual and strategic
analysis of key health system issues
– expand convening powers and engagement
between all the key stakeholders in development
in the Asia-Pacific region
– effectively disseminate relevant and useful
knowledge
– expand the capacity of Australian and regional
institutions and professionals
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Defining Health Information Systems
HIS
Resources
Dissemination
and Use
Indicators
Information
Products
Data Sources
Data
Management
Health Metrics Network (HMN) Framework and Standards for
Country Health Information Systems
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/en/
Mapping of HIS in Pacific Island
Countries
• A mapping of the health information systems in:
– Vanuatu
– Solomon Islands
– Fiji
– Tonga
– Nauru
– Cook Islands
– Wallis and Futuna
• Using the HMN Framework
• Identify areas for further analysis and research that
are common across countries
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Vanuatu Mapping –
what are we learning?
• The reporting burden from ‘vertical’ programs is
crippling at the ground level if we don’t think
strategically about what it is we REALLY NEED to
know to manage programs.
• 600 data items on 8 pages reported every month!
• This is either:
• not being done leading to incomplete data
collections, or
• the time taken to complete these forms is at the
expense of patient care.
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Vanuatu Mapping –
what are we learning?
• Routine, monthly collection from every centre
may not be the best way to get the answers we
need for program M & E. How frequently do we
really need to collect this based on use?
• Find natural synergies for data transmission, eg:
• Attach data reporting to stores ordering on a 2
monthly cycle.
• Help local staff to not only use data but to look at
it critically...Ask the questions
• “Can this be true?”
• “Does this make sense?”
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Vanuatu – HIS Mapping
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Critical Review of HIS Developments
in the Asia Pacific
• HIS is a neglected area of research
• Comprehensive critical assessment of previous
HIS developments and their outcomes
• Define what ‘success’ in HIS development looks
like, i.e. what is the minimum level of data and
systems for effective health systems
• Find out what has been done, by whom, and
where?
• Learn from successes and failures and
understand the ingredients for each - what
worked, what didn’t and why?
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Field-testing guidelines for assessing
Vital Registration Systems
• Tool developed in 2008 for assessing the quality
and functioning of country Vital Registration (VR)
systems
• In-depth assessment of the VR system used to
refine the tool and provide evidence about the
best methods for its use
• HIS Hub field testing the tool in Sri Lanka and
Philippines, in collaboration with WHO
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Official Launch of
VR Assessment in
Sri Lanka
Site tour of
Registrar
Offices in
Philippines
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Building Networks Regionally
- Pacific Health Information Network
• Support, knowledge transfer and training for those
working as health information professionals in the
Pacific
• Meeting and training was held in Nadi - September 2009
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Pacific HIS Development Forum –
2-3 November in Brisbane
• Based on the HMN Framework, partners from the
Pacific will be invited to present on HIS issues,
challenges and activities in their own countries or
regionally
• Discussion and presentations will be synthesised
and published with Pacific co-authors to increase
the knowledge-base for HIS in the Pacific
• Open invitation – see the HIS Knowledge Hub
website for more information
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Regional and Domestic Training
Initiatives
• Skills of both Australians and partner countries for
HIS development will be built initially through:
– Scholarship for an Australian Masters student
– Senior Fellow residencies of 1-2 semesters at SPH,
UQ from partner countries
– Development of HIS curriculum
– Exploration of the issues in relation
to HIS training/curriculum in the
Asia Pacific region
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009
It is not good enough
to just improve the
collection of data -
Senior managers and
decision makers
must be convinced
that they cannot
make decisions
without information
Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009