Developing a health information system for a primary health care centre in Alexandra, Johannesburg

The development of a health information system, which went through 6 overlapping phases, appropriate for a primary health care centre at the Alexandra Health Centre and University Clinic (AHC) is reviewed. The three essential concepts were data, information and indicators. The system at the AHC moved from unused data to unused information and to operational indicators. It also moved from a concern with data and information to one concerned with communication of information. The way a health information system evolves is, to a large extent, a reflection of the information needed by the group that is planning the system. In the AHC information needs were initially felt by senior management and attempts to involve other staff failed because of lack of timely feedback and a lack of management skills at all levels. In the process of trying to involve people and of getting to the correct type and amount of information, it became obvious that a health information system is complex and involves data as the major outputs, with people being the common thread of the system.