Routine Health Information Systems
Routine health information systems (RHIS) comprise data collected at regular intervals at public, private, and community-level health facilities and institutions and health programs. The data give a picture of health status, health services, and health resources. Most of the data are gathered by healthcare providers as they go about their work, by supervisors, and through routine health facility surveys. The sources of those data are generally individual health records, records of services delivered, and records of health resources.
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To learn how this work is continuing after the MEASURE Evaluation project, please visit Data for Impact, PMI Measure Malaria, and TB DIAH. |
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MEASURE Evaluation, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided technical and financial assistance for RHIS strengthening for more than 15 years. We contributed to best practices at the global level, and to the strengthening of RHIS data collection, data quality, analysis, and use at the country level. One of the project’s mandates was to strengthen the collection, analysis, and use of these data to achieve high-quality health service delivery. When routine data are lacking, or are not used, the results can be lower-quality services, weak infection prevention and control responses, lack of skilled health workers available where they are needed, and weak supply chains for drugs and equipment. These factors contribute to poor health outcomes for people.
Our main strategic approaches for strengthening RHIS focused on developing and reinforcing a country’s long-term planning for an integrated HIS, which includes all data sources, health metrics, and tools. We also helped to create district-managed and denominator-based RHIS at subnational levels. Related to this work was our work with community-based information systems (CBIS), which exist either alongside formal health provider facilities or in places where those are lacking. CBIS track patient- and service-level data from these programs, which typically are offered by community groups, faith-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations, or other groups. Read more about that work here.
We also focused on data quality as an essential factor for improving RHIS. A notable advance resulting from MEASURE Evaluation’s work with RHIS is the RHIS Rapid Assessment Tool, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This tool outlines standards for data management of RHIS and best practices, and has been developed to identify gaps and weaknesses and, thus, to strengthen RHIS and improve the data.
Related Content:
RHIS Tools
Performance of Routine Information System Management (PRISM)
Data Quality Review Tool (DQR)
Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA)
Gender-Integrated Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA+G) Tool
Other RHIS Resources
e-Learning Curriculum on Routine Health Information Systems: Guide for Facilitators
Routine Health Information Systems Curriculum
Validating the Effectiveness of a Rapid Assessment Tool for Routine Health Information Systems
MEASURE Evaluation Factsheet Series: RHIS
RHIS Networks
RELACSIS - a network for Spanish-speaking professionals working to strengthen health information systems
RHINO - the Routine Health Information Network
