Project to develop health information system at BVIHSA underway

The British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) has launched a project to move towards a more effective method of managing its health information.

CEO of the BVIHSA Dr Ronald Georges said the first phase of this project, which has already started, will tackle finance and human resources information.

There will be two more phases. The second phase will target clinical data, while the third will deal with operational costs.

It is anticipated that the entire undertaking will culminate within a three-year timeframe.

“If you want to manage information properly, you would need to have information at your fingertips,” he told BVI News on Tuesday.

“In most developed worlds, they would have not just electronic medical records but a complete health information system that manages all the different operations of health care facilities. So you have information on clinical matters, you have financial information, human resources, facilities and maintenance, information technology.”

Dr Georges said having information better organised and more readily available will also be a benefit to the decision makers.

“That’s basically what we are embarking on, it is a big project,” he said.

The hospital CEO was, however, unable to say how much the project was costing the territory.

Notably, last year, the territory implemented its first National Information System for Health (IS4H) policy.

The policy was part of the improved Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) framework to better facilitate human development and the overall quality of life of residents.