Table 1.

Illustrative challenges related to recording and use of secondary data from routine health information systems (RHIS) and personal health information (PHI)

Challenges of recording and using RHIS

Challenges of recording and using PHI (paper charts and EMR)

Excessive registries, indicators, and time burden on health workers Inconsistent data entry by multiple people Limited accountability for quality of registering Registry of information in two or more books Unlinked information among registries Inadequate archives for registry books Infrequent data use for decision-making and analysis at facilities and districts Infrequent sharing of data to cross-check Infrequent data quality assurance checks Numerator–denominator incompatibility Differential patterns of utilization

Time burden on providers who fill out (or don't fill out) charts Culture of lax charting Limited accountability for quality of charting Duplicate registry of information by providers Unlinked information across registries and charts Inadequate archives for paper charts Infrequent chart review for improvement of patient care Infrequent EMR maintenance Infrequent data quality assurance checks