Health Information Systems at Asian Institute of Management

Greetings!

Today, was all about Health. Particularly how Health Information Systems are progressing in the Philippines today. I attended a talk at the Asian Institute of Management located in the wonderful city of Makati.

I arrived there with some of my friends around quarter to 2. We were warmly welcomed by the staff. I did imagine the place to be a lot larger. I pictured the ceiling would be higher and halls wider. When we walked into the seminar room, I really was also expecting a larger room. Not that the seminar room was small or anything negative, I'm just saying that it could cater to more people if it had been a little larger.

The seminar started around 2:30. There were a few opening remarks by 2 people. They basically introduced the topic for the people to have a little perspective of what they'll be listening to for the next 2 hours. They indicated that the seminar was basically about:

How ICT can help improve Health Information Systems.

Improving operational efficiency.

The introduction was further emphasized with Mr. Alberto Romualdez. He presented alarming facts about maternity, reproduction, and mortality rates  and the differences between people from different social classes. He indicated that improving access, geography, and economy play heavy roles. 

Inequity was the biggest problem - inequitable access to health services. 

An overview of what a typical health system should have was also presented. Governance plays the most crucial role in any health information system. Without it, the rest will be dysfunctional. An overview of current information systems also was presented. A lot of institutions still have antiquated data collection (pen and paper).

The 'main' speaker of the seminar was Alvin B. Marcelo, M.D. For a short background he's part of PhilHealth and a Surgery Associate Professor in the UP College of Science. 

He showed a diagram about how health information systems components react with each other. There was human resources, governance, regulation, financing, services, and in the middle of it all was information. Information was the uniting entity. Although it was not the most vital, it was the 'glue' to the whole mechanism. It enabled the different parts to function and work with synergy. Again, the most important part was governance or justice. 

This basically indicated that coordination is key. With coordination, it will be more possible to have all the information more comprehensive and easily retrievable. I could not agree more. 

He also emphasized the importance of establishing standards for future growth. These standards will be used in the information architecture. Standards ensure that everything goes well in the future so that no major changes will have to be made that will potentially cost a lot. He indicated that simplicity was key. These simple standards will be used in the information architecture of the system that is yet to be made within the next 2 years.

With all this, I wish them a smooth and conflict-free development and implementation of that system and may it be a huge step for health in this country and ultimately a step closer to accomplishing MDGs.

The seminar ended around 4:30. Pictures were taken, complementary food was eaten, stomachs were filled, brains were stuffed, and we were all ready to go. I appreciated this experience and may there be more talks like this. Going to talks like this just feels so real and concrete. Real-life things are discussed and not just a concept system that has a slim chance of being implemented. It just felt so real. In the following years, we look back to this moment and say, "Wow, the system has already been implemented. I know a lot about that system." May there be more talks like this but hopefully another topic. Perhaps one that would help me with my thesis for this term with Team Flying Ipis. About crime and case management if possible. That would be a big help for us. 

Here are some of the pics I took from the talk. Enjoy!

 

I hope you liked it! Leave a comment and tell me what you liked or what you want me to improve on! Don't for get to follow my blog if you haven't yet! :)

Stay tuned for more!

Peace!