Implementation of Fingerprint Technology for Unique Patient Matching and Identification at an HIV Care and Treatment Facility in Western Kenya: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Unique patient identification remains a challenge in many health care settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Without national-level unique identifiers for whole populations, countries rely on demographic-based approaches that have proven suboptimal. Affordable biometrics-based approaches, implemented with consideration of contextual ethical, legal, and social implications, have the potential to address this challenge and improve patient safety and reporting accuracy.

mUzima Mobile Electronic Health Record (EHR) System: Development and Implementation at Scale.

Background: The predominant implementation paradigm of electronic health record (EHR) systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) relies on standalone system installations at facilities. This implementation approach exacerbates the digital divide, with facilities in areas with inadequate electrical and network infrastructure often left behind. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have been implemented to extend the reach of digital health, but these systems largely add to the problem of siloed patient data, with few seamlessly interoperating with the EHR systems that are now scaled nationally in many LMICs.

Comparative analysis of competency coverage within accredited master's in health informatics programs in the East African region.

Objective: As master of science in health informatics (MSc HI) programs emerge in developing countries, quality assurance of these programs is essential. This article describes a comprehensive comparative analysis of competencies covered by accredited MSc HI programs in the East African common labor and educational zone.

Materials And Methods: Two reviewers independently reviewed curricula from 7 of 8 accredited MSc HI university programs.

Coverage of IMIA-recommended Competencies by Masters in Health Informatics Degree Programs in East Africa.

Objective: The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) has provided recommendations on Education in Biomedical and Health Informatics (BMHI) as guidance on competencies relevant to education of BMHI specialists. However, it remains unclear how well these competencies have been adopted to guide emerging degree programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We evaluated comprehensiveness of IMIA-recommended competency coverage by Masters in Health Informatics (MSc HI) programs in East Africa.

Assessing the impact of a primary care electronic medical record system in three Kenyan rural health centers.

Objective: Efficient, effective health care requires rapid availability of patient information. We designed, implemented, and assessed the impact of a primary care electronic medical record (EMR) in three rural Kenyan health centers.

Method: Local clinicians identified data required for primary care and public health reporting.

A clinical decision support system for integrating tuberculosis and HIV care in Kenya: a human-centered design approach.

With the aim of integrating HIV and tuberculosis care in rural Kenya, a team of researchers, clinicians, and technologists used the human-centered design approach to facilitate design, development, and deployment processes of new patient-specific TB clinical decision support system for medical providers. In Kenya, approximately 1.6 million people are living with HIV and have a 20-times higher risk of dying of tuberculosis.

Experience implementing electronic health records in three East African countries.

Introduction: Efficient use of health care resources in low-income countries by providers and local and national managers requires timely access to patient data.

Objective: To implement electronic health records (EHRs) in HIV clinics in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Results: We initially developed and implemented an EHR in Kenya through a mature academic partnership.

A single health status question had important prognostic value among outpatients with chronic heart failure.

Objective: Health status is an important marker of the impact of disease on function among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the prognostic value of CHF-specific health status on long-term mortality has not been adequately evaluated. Our objective was to assess CHF-specific health status and 5-year mortality among outpatients with CHF.