This document outlines the importance and components of a health information system (HIS). It defines an HIS as an information processing and storage subsystem of a healthcare organization. The importance of an HIS is that it produces information needed by various stakeholders to better manage health programs and services, detect health problems, and monitor progress towards health goals. The key components of an HIS include inputs like resources, processes like data collection and management, and outputs like information products and dissemination. The document also discusses assessing an HIS using the Health Metrics Network tool and provides an example assessment of Cameroon's HIS.

1. By
Akumengwa Neba N.
HS12A001
Department of Public Health an Hygiene
MPH 611
Health Information System (HIS): Its
Importance and Components

2. Outline
 Introduction
 Goal
 Objectives
 Importance of HIS
 Components of HIS
 Assessment of HIS
 Conclusion
 Recommendations
2

3. Introduction
3

4. 4

5. Goal
 Improve participant’s knowledge on health
information system.
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6. General objective
 To highlight different aspects of a health
information system
Specific objectives
 To define terms related to health information
systems.
 To outline the importance of a health information
system
 To identify the various components of a health
information system
 To describe the how a health information system
is assessed
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7. Definitions
 Information System
Provide specific information support to the decision-
making process at each level of an organization
(Winter, A. 2010)
 Health Information System (HIS)
 An information processing and storing subsystem
of a health care organization.(Ibid)
 May be a single institution(a hospital) or a group
of health care institutions (health care network)
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8. Importance of a Health Information
System
 Produces information needed by
 Patients, communities, service
providers, programme
managers, policy-makers, providers of
funds, global agencies and organizations
 Information used for
 Better management, assess coverage and
quality of services; costs and expenditures.
 Detect and control emerging and endemic
health problems
 Monitor progress towards health goals; and
promote equity.8

9. Importance of a Health Information
System
 Strengthen the evidence base for effective health
policies
 Improve management related to mobilizing new
resources and ensure accountability of their
use.
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10. Components of a HIS
 Inputs
 HIS resources
 Processes
 Indicators
 Data sources
 Data management
 Output
 Information products
 Dissemination and use
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11. Components of a HIS cont….
 HIS resource
 Legislative, regulatory and planning frameworks
 Personnel, finances, logistics support, and
ICTs.
 Indicators
 Determinants of health; health system inputs,
outputs and outcomes.
 Data sources
 Censuses, civil registration and population
surveys
 Individual records, service records and11

12. Components of a HIS cont….
 Data management
 Data collection, storage, quality-assurance and
flow, processing, compilation and analysis
 Information products
 Data transformed into information for evidence
and knowledge to shape health action
 Dissemination and use
 Making information readily accessible to decision-
makers
 Communities
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13. Assessment of a HIS
Health Metrics Network tool
 Use to assess components of HIS on a scale of
0-100%
 0-24%=not adequate
 25-49%= present but not adequate
 50-74%= adequate
 75-100%= highly adequate
(WHO; HMN framework 2005)13

14. Assessment of HIS cont….
Cameroons HIS
 Assessment outcome 2007 places HIS at 45%
i.e…..
 Characterized by
 Personnel with inadequate knowledge on HIS.
 Untimely and failure to report data
 Inadequate resources
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15. Conclusion
 Better and stronger HIS can resolved
inadequacies in health systems.
 Awareness of the importance and components of
a HIS is a prerequisite to all those involved with
its activities
 Self -assessment of HIS is necessary for its
strengthening and use for better decisions and
better health.
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16. Recommendations
 Sensitization of stakeholders involved with the
HIS on its importance and components
 Assignment of skilled personnel to the HIS unit
accompanied by better remuneration
 The dissemination and use of information from
the system for decision-making.
 More emphasis on electronic than paper-based
data reporting
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17. References
 Winter A. Haux R. Ammenwerth E. Brigl B. Hellrung N. Jahn F. Health
Information Systems- Architectures And Strategies. Health informatics, e-ISBN
978-1-84996-441-8. 2. Ed .London: Springer-Verlag London Limited: 2010.
http://store.freecollege.org/noleech1.php (accessed 29 Jan 2014).
 Health Metrics Network. Version 4.00. Framework and
standards for country health information systems:
Assessing national HIS information dissemination and
use. Geneva, World Health Organization: 2008.
 Lippeveld, Theo, R. Sauerborn, and C. Bodart. Design and Implementation of
Health Information Systems. Health Information System Module. Geneva: WHO.
2000.
 World Health Organisation. Components of a strong
health information system. A guide to the health
metrics network framework. Geneva, World Health
Organization: 2008
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18. I HOPE THIS WAS
INFORMATIVE
THANKS FOR YOUR KIND
ATTENTION
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