Wednesday, April 14, 2010

[EQ] Improving the structure and performance of national health information systems

Improving the structure and performance of national health information systems:
Operational approach and strategic recommendations


Technical Series on Information for Decision-Making - PWR CHILE/09/HA/03

Cesar Gattini - Advisor on Health Analysis and Statistics,    PAHO/WHO Representation in Chile

Prepared and edited by the Office of the PAHO/WHO Representation in Chile, Santiago: 2009

PDF [122p.] available to download online:
http://new.paho.org/chi/images/PDFs/national%20health%20information%20%20systems-final%20.pdf

“...this document provides an operational approach and strategic recommendations to guide in the search for better National Health Information Systems (NHIS), through improving their structure and performance.

Under a logical framework approach, it takes into account the systematic critical aspects that tend to be found at NHIS and their corresponding solutions. The rationale for NHIS improvement is the needs for better availability, effectiveness and timeliness of information, in support of policy and decision-making in the health sector.

 

The document focuses on the identification, assessment, planning and improvement of the NHIS, including its components (institutional, technological and functional) and relevant elements (such as policies, standards, organization, resources, technology, processes and performance)...”

Contents

 

Introduction

Needs for Effective Information and Better Health Information Systems

Frequent Limitations in NHIS Structure and Performance

The Search for Better NHIS in Countries

Purpose of the Document and Intended Audience

Structure of the Document

The Operational Approach

A Systemic Approach

Description of the NHIS as a Nationwide Integrated System

Co-Existing Information, Statistical and Surveillance Systems

The NHIS Components

Specific Health Information Systems

Local Health Information Systems

The Contents of Information

Assessing the NHIS

The Reference for Assessment: The Country Adopted Model and Benchmarks

The Assessment Method

The Institutional Component

The Technological Component

The Functional Component

The Integration of the NHI Network

Planning the NHIS Improvement

Plans for NHIS Improvement

Options for Specific and Gradual NHIS Improvement

The Conditions to Ensuring an Effective Plan

The Objectives

Resources and Timetable

The Implementation Process

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Plan

Improving the NHIS Institutional Component

The Legal and Administrative Framework

The Development of Regulations, Criteria, Standards and Norms

Institutional Arrangement for Proper Collection and Production of Information

Defining the Information Contents

The Role of the National Health Authority

Institutional Arrangement for Resources and Technology

 

Improving the NHIS Technological Component

The Search for ICT Solutions

Development of ICT-Related Policies

ICT Implementation and Improvement

Elements and Options for Progressive Automation

Improving the NHIS Performance

Pre-Conditions for Effective Performance

Improving the Management of the NHIS

Improving the Production of Information

Improving the Integration of the Nationwide Information Network

Ensuring the Value of Information as a Key Input for Action

 


*      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
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[EQ] Implementing national health observatories

Implementing national health observatories:
Operational approach and strategic recommendations


Technical Series on Information for Decision-Making - PWR CHILE/09/HA/02

Cesar Gattini, Advisor on Health Analysis and Statistics, PAHO/WHO Representation in Chile

Prepared and edited by the Office of the PAHO/WHO Representation in Chile, Santiago: 2009

PDF [70p.] available to download online:

http://new.paho.org/chi/images/PDFs/national%20health%20observatories_final.pdf

 

“...This document outlines the operational approach and strategic recommendations for the implementation of national health observatories.

A national health observatory is operationally assumed to be “a policy-oriented virtual-based national center aimed at performing systematic and ongoing integrated observation on relevant issues about population health and health systems, in support of effective and evidence-based health policy, planning, decision-making and action in public health and health systems.

Based on its capacity and functions, the Observatory can serve simultaneously as a functional center for: public health surveillance; monitoring health systems; specialized analysis of health-policy related matters; health-related warning; policy-oriented advisory; and health information as well as knowledge production and management.

The ultimate goal is to contribute to the preservation and improvement of health of the population, including the reduction of inequalities...”

 

Contents

 

Introduction

The Need for Policy-oriented Information and Observation

Expected Contribution from the Observatory

The Empirical basis for the Observatory

Opportunities and Challenges for Implementation

Operational Approach

Operational Concepts

A Health Model as Framework for Observation

Structure and Performance

Observatory Functions

Empirical Basis for the Implementation of the Observatory

Experiences and National Capacity for Observation and Observatories

Specific Observation Performed by Surveillance and Monitoring Systems

Health Observatories

Initiatives and Tools for Information Management and Overview Reporting

Use of Relevant and Responsive Information for Decision- Making

Understanding and Facilitating the Use of Information for Decision Making

Dynamic Use of Information Domains as Sources for Observation

Role of Responsive Information for Decision-Making in Public Health

Role of Responsive Information for Decision-Making in Health Systems

The Implementation Process

Outlining and Proposing an Implementation Plan

Assessment of the Readiness and Alternatives for Implementation

Establishment of the Steering Committee

Refining the Plan of Implementation and the Observatory Design

Establishing the Organization and Structure

Setting up the Observatory Functions and Modules

Consolidation of the Organization, Structure and Performance

*      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
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[EQ] US Health Care Quality, Disparity Reports

National Healthcare Disparities Report


U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

AHRQ Publication No. 10-0004 March 2010 www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr09.htm

Full Report (PDF 302p. - 5.7 MB) at:  http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr09/nhdr09.pdf

“……Examining health care disparities is an integral part of improving health care quality. Health care disparities are the differences or gaps in care experienced by one population compared with another population. As the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) shows, Americans too often do not receive care that they need or they receive care that causes harm.

The National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) shows that some Americans receive worse care than other Americans. Within the scope of health care delivery, these disparities may be due to differences in access to care, provider biases, poor provider-patient communication, poor health literacy, or other factors….”

“….The purpose of the NHDR, as mandated by Congress,i is to identify the differences or gaps where some populations receive poor or worse care than others and to track how these gaps are changing over time. Although the emphasis is on disparities related to race and socioeconomic status, the reporting mandate indicates an expectation that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will examine health care disparities across broadly defined “priority populations.” These include ethnic minorities and other groups or categories of individuals experiencing disparate and inadequate health care.

The NHDR and NHQR use the same measures, which are categorized across four dimensions of quality: effectiveness, patient safety, timeliness, and patient centeredness. This year’s report focuses on the state of health care disparities for a group of “core” measuresii that represent the most important and scientifically credible measures of health care quality for the Nation, as selected by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Interagency Work Group.iii By focusing on core measures, the 2009 report provides a more readily understandable summary and explanation of the key results derived from the data.iv

Three key themes emerge in the 2009 NHDR:
-  Disparities are common and uninsurance is an important contributor
-  Many disparities are not decreasing.
- Some disparities merit particular attention, especially care for cancer, heart failure, and pneumonia…..”

Content:

Highlights

1. Introduction and Methods
2. Effectiveness.


Cancer
Diabetes.
EndStage RenalDisease(ESRD).
HeartDisease .
HIVandAIDS Maternal and Child Health.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Respiratory Diseases.
LifestyleModification .
FunctionalStatusPreservationand Rehabilitation
Supportive and Palliative Care

3. Patient Safety
4. Timeliness

5. Patient Centeredness

6. Efficiency .

Appendixes:


Data Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr09/datasources/index.html
Detailed Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr09/methods/index.html
Measure Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr09/measurespec/index.html
Data Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr09/index.html


National Healthcare Quality Report

Full Report ( 157p. - 5.7 MB) at:  http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr09/nhqr09.pdf

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Statement on New Health Care Quality, Disparity Reports
Tue, 13 Apr 2010

“….HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement on new reports on health care quality and health care disparities faced by racial, ethnic or income groups. The new reports –  the 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report and the National Healthcare Quality Report – were released April 13, 2010 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality….”

 

*      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website

Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho






IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
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confidential information. If you are not the intended
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transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
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any action in reliance on it. If you received this
transmission in error, please notify us immediately by
email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and
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