Ethiopia ICT Capacity Building at the Gondar University
Ethiopia ICT Capacity Building at the Gondar University Hospital
Introductions David Aldacushion Peace Corps Volunteer Gondar, Ethiopia daldacus@gmail. com Organizations: Gondar University Hospital I-TECH (University of Washington-based NGO) International Training & Educational Center on HIV
Gondar
Capacity Building p What can I do to improve the efficiency of the data management operations? p What can I do to improve the quality and amount of information extracted from the data? p How can I help the hospital utilize this information to improve patient care?
Goals Better data. Better analysis. Better decisions. Better care!
Situation p Data stored on paper and Excel spreadsheets p Labor intensive monthly reporting p Computers plagued by viruses p 20% Lost-To-Follow-Up rate among ART Patients
ART Register Database p Developed by Johns Hopkins University (JHU TSEHAI) p Tracks Pre-ART and ART Patient Data, including monthly drug refills. p Generates monthly reports required by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health
ICT Activities p Develop custom reports to extend the JHU database. n n Appointment Forecasting/Scheduling Missed Appointments (Lost-To-Follow-Up) Duplicate records search Databases for other departments: PMTCT, Case Management Computer Support p Mentor University IT Department p
Challenges Computer viruses p Lack of local expertise p Long-term ownership and support p Ethiopian calendar system (13 months) p n n p Western: 2/2/2009 Ethiopian: 25/5/2001 Disorganized hospital record departments
Virus Prevention p Install of fresh copy of Windows p Install Office and other software p Install Antivirus Software p Install Faronics’ Anti-Executable
Success – Hospital Efficiency p Improved efficiency and accuracy. p Monthly reports can be generated in minutes rather than hours. p I-TECH computers are networked and have been virus free for the last ten months.
Success - Adherence Early detection of Lost-To-Follow-Up patients p ART patients who have missed their monthly drug refill appointments can now be identified within a few days rather than waiting until the end of the month. p Case Managers can now contact these individuals faster and bring them back to the program.
Success – Patient Load Balancing p Developed appointment forecasting/scheduling worksheet to help evenly distribute the patient load across the month. p Schedule a maximum of 75 people a day versus up to 250 people in the past.
Success – A Model Site p Among I-TECH’s sites, Gondar has become a model facility. p New project: n n n Roll out the JHU database and other successes to other I-TECH sites in the country. Reorganize hospital records rooms. Clean/migrate Excel data into the database.
Other Volunteer ICT Projects p Non-profit Cybercafe – Proceeds go to support orphan and PLWHA services p Basic computer skills training to HIV peer service providers (Partners of CARE) p HAPCO reporting templates in MS Excel, improving accuracy and organization of data p Sponsorship database – Tracking OVC enrollment data at local school/charity/community center
Thank you! David Aldacushion daldacus@gmail. com
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