@jdonsoriano
Q: How do we deal with current existing vertical information systems under the EA plan?
Ans: Vertical systems are results of poor (or lack of) architectural design. Often we blame information systems for these vertical programs but if you look closely, these information systems were simply artifacts that reflect the realities of the business processes. If you dissect the business architecture layer, you will see that the health programs are in fact operating in silos themselves.
These silos/vertical programs are detrimental to health service delivery and must be fixed — but how? This is one of the biggest challenges in eHealth right now — When you have mature information systems for vertical programs such as the TB and malaria, how do we re-integrate them?
Interestingly enough the answer seems obvious — re-orient information systems around the point-of-care (at the patient level) since all services converged with the patient and not with the programs. Thus while programs may be vertical, the patient remains the locus of interest or the hub where these vertical programs intersect. Therefore, a patient-oriented electronic health record design could be an effective way of dealing with vertical programs — a system where the patient’s longitudinal records are accessible from his/her perspective.
Q: Is UMID part of the EA plan for data collection? Is a unique ID an integral part of HIS?
Ans: Not yet. The reason is that the UMID still does not assign a common reference number (CRN) for every citizen in the Philippines. Only formal employees have SSS. Only government officials have GSIS. Pag-ibig is optional. Only PhilHealth assigns a unique number for every person (including those below 18 years of age) thus the PhilHealth number is the national health identifier for use in the national eHealth plan.
Having said that, there is a Citizen Registry project in the works. This could be the client registry component of the Philippine Health Information Exchange.
Q: What’s the bigger problem for capacity building – tech infrastructure or human capital?
Ans: Human capital because all tech are operated by humans in the end. But there should be parallel build-up of tech infrastructure with human capacity so they are in sync.
@abbysantos
Q1: If TOGAF is used as the #EA for the Philippines, who are the process owners of TOGAF categories Biz,Tech,Data, App?
The priorities of the PeHSFP are:
1) MDG5 (decrease maternal deaths) – business process owner is DOH – Family Health Office
2) Increase UHC – business process owner – PhilHealth
3) Complete the health facility enhancement program – business process owner – National Health Facility Development Bureau
Data ownership is by the business process owner.
Application and technology owner is KMITS (formerly IMS).
Q2: How will the private sector’s role be articulated in the current EA being used for the Philippines?
Ans: The private sector is represented in three groups:
- the ICT for Health Technical Working Group
- the Advisers’ Group
- the EMR Committee
@TDMontalesMD
Q: In the DOH #EA under service access & delivery, there is no mention of a network provider, should a specific company be identified to set the service standard?
Ans: Usually, no specific brands are placed in an enterprise architecture, rather it contains specifications. This provides leverage to the client as to who to contract within the constraints of those specifications.
Q: What does the “for conversion” status mean in the Political Profiling System of the DOH Application System?
Ans: This means that the existing system will be upgraded/converted into a newer version.
Q: Is the DOH getting additional funding to improve its ICT or is it just working around the govt budget allotted?
Ans: Yes. The DBM has created the Medium-term IT Harmonization Initiative (MITHI) to fund integrated electronic services between agencies.
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