Interoperability for indicator data reporting
These documents were developed as a step-by-step guide on how to set up and configure electronic indicator data reporting from electronic medical records systems (EMR) to indicator/aggregate data system. Most of this work was focused on electronic systems that are currently used in resource-constrained environments, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, to support The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiative.
We initiated a laboratory-controlled feasibility study1 to demonstrate electronic indicator data reporting from OpenMRS (an open source EMR) to DHIS 2 (an aggregate data system). After the success of indicator data exchange, we documented a step by step process that can be followed to achieve electronic indicator data reporting. We also conducted a field test on indicator data reporting from a heath facility EMR to a simulated ministry of health DHIS 2 instance with the goal of examining the impact of adopting interoperability on human resources, reporting workflow and data quality at the facility.
This was followed by another laboratory-controlled feasibility study to demonstrate electronic indicator data reporting from IQCare (another open source electronic medical records system used in resource-constrained environments) to DHIS 2.
From these two feasibility studies, we created guide documents with the goal of sharing them with people, groups or organizations who can use them to implement interoperability for indicator data reporting using these systems. The guides we developed can be accessed here: