From Data to Decision Making in Health: The Evolution of a Health Management Information System

This book focuses on self-assessment and action related to monitoring and supervision of a health management information system (MIS). MIS is intended to address the problem of overburdened health workers collecting quantities of useless or unused information as well as the scarcity of vital data available for analysis or managerial planning. The case study is detailed of the transition from a traditional reporting system to MIS in three regions of Ghana. The first chapter addresses reasons for implementing MIS. Chapter 2 describes the project design including process and objectives. Chapter 3 explores the tools used for planning and data collection as well as those for self-assessment and reporting. Perhaps the most important step of the MIS process is addressed in Chapter 4: the development and introduction of self-assessment tools including 45 essential indicators that can be graphed easily at any level of the system. The graphs serve to stimulate discussion during regular management team meetings at that level. Chapter 5 looks at the achievements to date and major project outputs. The last chapter examines obstacles and answers to a series of critical questions for designing developing and implementing an MIS. The annexes cover self-assessment tools: instructions for using the tools and examples of completed self-assessment tools (primary health care coverage assessment and primary health care: continuity/quality of care assessment).