Technology at IntraHealth

As technology becomes more available in developing countries, innovative systems development has become an essential part of successful program planning. In the process of serving its own project needs in developing countries, IntraHealth’s Informatics team has created a series of innovative initiatives. Through the USAID-funded Capacity Project, for example, we are working in nine African countries to roll out information systems that will provide policy leaders with the data needed to make well-informed decisions about public health policies and resources. These kinds of systems can have broad applications in strengthening access to health care worldwide.

As IntraHealth and others continue to create new initiatives in technology, it is imperative that local talent and leadership, especially in developing countries, be mobilized to develop and sustain health-related informatics and technology.

IntraHealth’s Role in Global Health Information Systems

As a leader in the non-profit development of Open Source and global health information systems, IntraHealth is committed to using technology to benefit the people of the developing world. Working within the Open Source philosophy, IntraHealth engineers highly usable systems to engage, support and strengthen local health organizations and health workers. As part of its mission, IntraHealth is making those systems available without licensing or upgrade fees by releasing them under Open Source licenses.

We only work where we are invited by local stakeholders. Once involved, we use a combination of custom software, training and shared expertise to transfer technology effectively. With the right tools — Open Source software, community health information systems, geographic information systems and developer networks — health workers can work independently, customizing and enhancing information systems as they use them. Leaders and managers make better, data-based decisions and mobilize resources to provide the maximum in health care.

IntraHealth’s leadership in this field is recognized by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), private companies and the nongovernmental organization (NGO) community.

Defining Open Source and Informatics

The license for an Open Source software application allows users the freedom to modify, run, share and redistribute copies of either the original or modified version with no obligation to pay royalties to developers. Open Source applications are typically created in a collaborative effort in which people all over the world share improvements and fixes.

Informatics includes the science of information, the practice of information processing and the engineering of information systems. Informatics studies the structure, behavior and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process and communicate information. It also develops its own conceptual and theoretical foundations. Since computers, individuals and organizations all process information, informatics has computational, cognitive and social aspects, including study of the social impact of information technologies. - Wikipedia

Selected IntraHealth Informatics activities include:

• The Capacity Project’s human resources information system (HRIS) strengthening activities
• The Capacity Project’s iHRIS software suite: Qualify, Plan, Manage: Developed with funding from USAID, the first freely available software suite designed to help countries in the developing world organize data and answer vital questions about their health workforce
• HRH stakeholder leadership and data-driven decision making: Helping stakeholders use human resources for health (HRH) information to make better policy and management decisions
• Last Mile Initiative: An Open Source community health information system for health care workers in the field, developed as part of a USAID-sponsored effort to expand rural communities’ access to telecommunications using sustainable technology
• Collaborative HRIS assessment database, funded by PEPFAR
• Organizational and programmatic geographic information system (GIS) initiatives
• Workforce predictive modeling leadership software: The Capacity Project is organizing leaders in health workforce modeling to build consensus on a planning model and requirements for user-friendly workforce planning software.