[Electronic parent-child health records--potentials, aims and international experience]. / Elektronischer Mutter(Eltern)-Kind Pass--Möglichkeiten, Zielsetzungen und internationale Erfahrungen.

AIM OF THE REVIEW: Against the background of a planned re-orientation of the Austrian maternity and child programme, which might include an electronic instead of paper-based realisation, this article aims to give an overview of international pilot projects of electronic parent-child preventive care initiatives (ePCPI) as well as their aims, potentials and constraints. METHODS: A literature search in databases and hand search for international (pilot) projects was undertaken. RESULTS: 9 of the 30 identified ePCPI can be treated as electronic parent and/or child health records, which have been realised within a comprehensive electronic health record, as an electronic version of a paper-based document or as a centre-based IT solution. Only a few ePCPI use the additional potential of health services planning and evaluation besides core components (e. g., administration of care) and facilitate systemic learning based on feedback and evaluation -cycles. CONCLUSION: Based on experiences from international ePCPIs some core components of successful planning and implementation, like the definition of aims and their monitoring, the constitution of teams responsible for planning and conception and the early involvement of end-users and stakeholders, should be considered to minimise avoidable mistakes. Consequent technology assessments, including those of IT-based interventions, are required to allow a reflected approach.

The Austrian Health Information System "ÖGIS" - supporting implementation of the Public Health Action Cycle in Austria.

The Austrian National Public Health Institute (GÖG) started to develop the Austrian Health Information System (ÖGIS) by combining technology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and common approaches of epidemiology in the early 1990ies. Today, ÖGIS is designed as a specific GIS-application, continuously maintained and developed further by in-house development within GÖG and accessible to all employees of GÖG as well as to interested external institutions and persons. ÖGIS covers all major data sources relevant to health, health determinants and the health care system in Austria. It is used for epidemiological research, health reporting, health services monitoring and research as well as for integrated planning of the health care system. After ÖGIS has proven itself as a useful support for implementation of the Public Health Action Cycle in Austria over many years, the maintenance of the ÖGIS databases will be continued and the employment of ÖGIS for purposes of regional health services research will be intensified in the upcoming years.