HRHIS
Encyclopedia
A “Human Resource for Health Information System” (“HRHIS”) — also known within the health care
sector as “human resource information system” (“HRIS”) — is a system for collecting, processing, managing and disseminating data and information on human resource for health
(HRH). Depending on the level of development of a country's health care system
and the organization of its workforce, an HRHIS can be computerized
or paper-based, and including information on numbers and distribution of health workers and track their career information. It is usually an integral part of a comprehensive health management information system
, and may be used to monitor and assess the performance of the overall health system.
For example, in Tanzania the title Human Resource for Health Information System refers to an open-source software
solution for HRH information management developed by the Department of Computer Science, University of Dar es Salaam
for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (Tanzania), and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) and other development partners. The system supports the capture of data linked to any level in an organizational hierarchy and a high degree of customization at both the input and output side.
Similar systems have been developed and implemented elsewhere. In Uganda, an open-source HRHIS was implemented under the request of the Ugandan Ministry of Health (MOH), to link and better manage a variety of independent sources of health workforce data, including data from censuses and other national surveys, MOH administrative records, district level sources, independent research studies, and health professional council data. In Brazil, the national web-based HRHIS (known in Portuguese as sistema de informação e gestão de recursos humanos em saúde) was implemented by the Brazilian Ministry of Health
under a process of health systems reform and decentralization, catalyzed by the availability of new information technologies at the level of local health organizations. Botswana
developed its HRHIS in 1994, and Ministry of Health staff used the data as a basis for coordinated national workforce planning efforts with other agencies and ministries, such as the Department of Local Government which employs health workers in local regions.
Implementation of HRHIS is an effort to improve HRH management. The HRHIS software is a part of Health Management Information System (HMIS) as well the District Health Information System (DHIS) software. The HRHIS is fully integrated with DHIS 2 through import/export mechanism.
(server scripting language), PostgreSQL
(database management system) running on multi-platform (Windows, Linux) architecture.
It provides flexibility to:
The system can capture health personnel's data by organization unit and cadre, etc., and generate various general and aggregated web-enabled reports in different formats including graphical reporting. It can be configured by organization structure according to users' requirements, such as for the case of the central ministry, the system can allow additional regions, districts and health facilities to be added dynamically without entering into system codes.
The system has been developed based on full open source technologies (PHP
, PostgreSQL
, and Linux
), and is designed to be user-friendly based on flexible architecture. The initial database was populated with the minimum set of data items as requested by MOHSW, but the system allows administrators or authorized users to add additional elements as new needs arise. The HRHIS can also provide import/output mechanism for data at different levels, such as national, regional, district or facility level.
Since human resource information/data are personal and confidential, the HRHIS system was designed and developed taking into account high security measures for protecting the data that has been entered. Security measures include a login mechanism such that only authorized personnel can use the system, and also a Users Administration functionality which allows the system administrator to limit users access to the available functions of the system.
The system was built by UDSM developers and analysts who are considered fully conversant with the changing needs of health sector and Tanzania's context. It is used in the Coast region (all districts and regional level) and MOHSW headquarters, and implementation is ongoing in Dar es Salaam, and thereafter in Kilimanjaro, Tanga, and Morogoro.
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
sector as “human resource information system” (“HRIS”) — is a system for collecting, processing, managing and disseminating data and information on human resource for health
Health Human Resources
Health human resources — also known as “human resources for health” or “health workforce” — is defined as “all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health”, according to the World Health Organization's World Health Report 2006. Human resources for health are identified as...
(HRH). Depending on the level of development of a country's health care system
Health care system
A health care system is the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the health needs of target populations....
and the organization of its workforce, an HRHIS can be computerized
Health informatics
.Health informatics is a discipline at the intersection of information science, computer science, and health care...
or paper-based, and including information on numbers and distribution of health workers and track their career information. It is usually an integral part of a comprehensive health management information system
Health Information Management
Health information management is the practice of maintenance and care of health records by traditional and electronic means in hospitals, physician's office clinics, health departments, health insurance companies, and other facilities that provide health care or maintenance of health records...
, and may be used to monitor and assess the performance of the overall health system.
For example, in Tanzania the title Human Resource for Health Information System refers to an open-source software
Open-source software
Open-source software is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software.Open...
solution for HRH information management developed by the Department of Computer Science, University of Dar es Salaam
University of Dar es Salaam
The University of Dar es Salaam is a university in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. The university was born out of a decision taken in 1970 to split the then University of East Africa into three independent universities; Makerere University , University of Nairobi and University of Dar es...
for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (Tanzania), and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan...
(JICA) and other development partners. The system supports the capture of data linked to any level in an organizational hierarchy and a high degree of customization at both the input and output side.
Similar systems have been developed and implemented elsewhere. In Uganda, an open-source HRHIS was implemented under the request of the Ugandan Ministry of Health (MOH), to link and better manage a variety of independent sources of health workforce data, including data from censuses and other national surveys, MOH administrative records, district level sources, independent research studies, and health professional council data. In Brazil, the national web-based HRHIS (known in Portuguese as sistema de informação e gestão de recursos humanos em saúde) was implemented by the Brazilian Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health (Brazil)
The Ministry of Health is one of many the Brazilian federal government ministries.Created on July 25, 1953 as the Ministry of Education and Health , today it is effectively divided into three distinct official organs: Health, Education, and Culture.-External links:*...
under a process of health systems reform and decentralization, catalyzed by the availability of new information technologies at the level of local health organizations. Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
developed its HRHIS in 1994, and Ministry of Health staff used the data as a basis for coordinated national workforce planning efforts with other agencies and ministries, such as the Department of Local Government which employs health workers in local regions.
Background: Human Resource for Health (HRH) Strategic Plan
The Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) has identified health workforce information as a key area that needs to be strengthened in fast tracking implementation of its Human Resource Strategic Plan. The situation analysis conducted during the development of the said plan indicated that there are several databases dealing with human resource for health with mostly same information fields within and outside the ministry. It was then agreed that these sources should be harmonized, and housed under Health Management Information System for consistency.Implementation of HRHIS is an effort to improve HRH management. The HRHIS software is a part of Health Management Information System (HMIS) as well the District Health Information System (DHIS) software. The HRHIS is fully integrated with DHIS 2 through import/export mechanism.
HRHIS Software
The HRHIS was built using free and open source technologies PHPPHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
(server scripting language), PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
(database management system) running on multi-platform (Windows, Linux) architecture.
It provides flexibility to:
- Add any number of datasets or elements required by any sectors (such as central health ministry, local government, civil services (PO-PSM) or private providers)
- Update organization unit details
- Generate different reports including graphical reporting
- Store different human resources data and history
The system can capture health personnel's data by organization unit and cadre, etc., and generate various general and aggregated web-enabled reports in different formats including graphical reporting. It can be configured by organization structure according to users' requirements, such as for the case of the central ministry, the system can allow additional regions, districts and health facilities to be added dynamically without entering into system codes.
The system has been developed based on full open source technologies (PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
, PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
, and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
), and is designed to be user-friendly based on flexible architecture. The initial database was populated with the minimum set of data items as requested by MOHSW, but the system allows administrators or authorized users to add additional elements as new needs arise. The HRHIS can also provide import/output mechanism for data at different levels, such as national, regional, district or facility level.
Since human resource information/data are personal and confidential, the HRHIS system was designed and developed taking into account high security measures for protecting the data that has been entered. Security measures include a login mechanism such that only authorized personnel can use the system, and also a Users Administration functionality which allows the system administrator to limit users access to the available functions of the system.
The system was built by UDSM developers and analysts who are considered fully conversant with the changing needs of health sector and Tanzania's context. It is used in the Coast region (all districts and regional level) and MOHSW headquarters, and implementation is ongoing in Dar es Salaam, and thereafter in Kilimanjaro, Tanga, and Morogoro.
See also
- Human resources for healthHealth Human ResourcesHealth human resources — also known as “human resources for health” or “health workforce” — is defined as “all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health”, according to the World Health Organization's World Health Report 2006. Human resources for health are identified as...
general issues - Health information managementHealth Information ManagementHealth information management is the practice of maintenance and care of health records by traditional and electronic means in hospitals, physician's office clinics, health departments, health insurance companies, and other facilities that provide health care or maintenance of health records...
- Health informaticsHealth informatics.Health informatics is a discipline at the intersection of information science, computer science, and health care...
- Human Resources for HealthHuman Resources for HealthHuman Resources for Health is a peer-reviewed, open-access, public health journal publishing original research and case studies on issues of information, planning, production, management, and governance of the health workforce, and their links with health care delivery and health outcomes,...
journal
External links
- HRIS Strengthening Implementation Toolkit, USAID-supported Capacity Project
- University of Dar es Salaam, Computer Science unit, Tanzania
- Health Information Systems Programme, Tanzania