An assessment of Trinidad & Tobago’s health information system readiness

OBJECTIVES: (i). The establishment of a baseline of Trinidad & Tobago’s Health Information System (HIS) status; (ii). The promotion of a common and comprehensive understanding of the HIS among all stakeholders; (iii). The identification of existing strengths and weaknesses of the HIS; and (iv). The identification of priority areas for improvement. DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the Version 4.0 of the WHO’s Health Metrics Network Assessment Tool three (3) Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) were evaluated. The scoring scheme was based on a system of “0” to “3”. “0” meaning “not prepared at all” and “3” meaning “fully prepared”. Interviews were conducted with County Medical Officers of Health, Medical Chiefs of Staff, Executive Medical Directors, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Managers and Public Health Observatory Heads. RESULTS AND FINDINGS: The results indicated that the lowest scores were assigned to data management (48%) and resources (49%), both classified as present but not adequate. Dissemination and use (53%), information products (58%) and data sources (61%) were found to be adequate. HIS indicators were found to be highly adequate (76%). CONCLUSION: The main areas of weakness in Trinidad and Tobago’s current HIS readiness were Data Management and Resources, while Indicator status was its greatest attribute.

Information system planning in a drug service: a case study

The development of an information system in Caribbean public sector organisations is usually seen as a matter of installing hardware and software according to a directive from senior management, without much planning. This causes huge investment in procuring hardware and software without improving overall system performance. Increasingly, Caribbean organisations are looking for assurances on information system performance before making investment decisions not only to satisfy the funding agencies, but also to be competitive in this dynamic and global business world. This study demonstrates an information system planning approach using a process-reengineering framework. Firstly, the stakeholders for the business functions are identified along with their relationships and requirements. Secondly, process reengineering is carried out to develop the system requirements. Accordingly, information technology is selected through detailed system requirement analysis. Thirdly, cost-benefit analysis, identification of critical success factors and risk analysis are carried out to strengthen the selection. The entire methodology has been demonstrated through an information system project in the Barbados drug service, a public sector organisation in the Caribbean.

Information systems and information technology in health: challenges and solutions for Latin America and the Caribbean

Information is an essential element in decision making, and the provision and guidance of health care is a complex enterprise, highly dependent on information for a great variety of clinical and managerial decisions. To be useful, information systems must capture and process health and health-related data of broad diversity, scope, and level of detail

Using a simple information system to monitor and evaluate a community mental health service - abstract

Montserrat has an above average rate for schizophrenia (1 - 3), prevention strategies are weak and the need for improved care of the mentally ill is well recognized. As part of a Government four-year Public Sector Investment Programme (PISP) (4),the health department developed a mental health plan, one aspect of which was to reduce admission rates of acute mental illness by setting a target for the service (75 per cent reduction in 5 years). One of the main strategies to achieve this was to develop a simple information system to monitor and evaluate the service in achieving its target. This paper describes the development of the information system after two years in operation. Two groups of indices were monitored, the workload of professionals working in the unit (unit activity) and the monthly rates of acute admissions and court orders (outcome). By plotting both these groups of data, professionals were able to monitor their work in achieving the target they had set. It was found that an increase in the prevention activity of the unit had indeed led to the reduction of court orders and acute admissions. This very simple information clearly demonstrates how a health information system, even without computer technology, can strengthen a service and provide evidence of a positive outcome (AU)

Women's database directory: Latin America and Caribbean Women Health Network

Contains information about many or the groups and organizations working on women's health issues from different perspectives around the world and especially in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Aims to identify and describe the subject and geographic areas, objectives, target groups and publications of the different organizations and groups. (AU)