Community Health Application

Community health informatics involves using information science and technology to manage health data
and address public health concerns at the population level.

This includes integrating data from various sources:

● medical care
● food and water supply
● disease treatment
● disaster management
● environmental factors

The goal is to assess and track the health status of communities effectively, identifying and controlling
disease outbreaks and epidemics promptly.

Community health information systems focus on the majority of the public, emphasizing disease
prevention, medical intervention, and public awareness. Its a big database that help keeps track of
the health of the community. They're important because they focus on keeping everyone healthy
by preventing diseases, providing medical help when needed, and making sure people know how
to stay healthy.

Suppose, there's a community health information system for Brgy. Ahito Gwapito. It would collect information
about things like how many people are getting sick, where they live, and what might be causing their illnesses.
For example, if there's an increase in asthma cases in one neighborhood, the system will look at factors like air
quality, pollution, or access to healthcare to figure out why.

Another good example is when government agencies like DOH will use this information to make rules and
policies to keep everyone safe and healthy. If the data shows that many people are getting sick from
contaminated water, they will put regulations in place to ensure cleaner drinking water for everyone.

Community Electronic Disease Surveillance

System (CEDSS)
The Community Electronic Disease Surveillance System (CEDSS) is a specialized tool designed to connect
with the national health information system to gather important data. This data includes the environment's
condition, people's health records, how many people live in certain areas, and information about health
awareness programs. CEDSS puts all these pieces together to give a full picture of what's happening in a
community. For example, if there's a sudden increase in sickness in Brgy. Ahito Gwapito, CEDSS can quickly
spot it and figure out why.

Advantages of integrating community health systems like CEDSS into a cohesive network include:

● Consistent Exchange of Response → Making sure everyone involved in healthcare talks to each
other regularly. Doctors, nurses, and public health officials share information about disease outbreaks
and how to respond effectively.
● Disease Tracking → Keeping an eye on diseases in real-time. For example, tracking the number of flu
cases in a city each day to see if there's a sudden increase, which could indicate an outbreak
● Data and Information Sharing → Sharing health information easily between different groups. For
example, hospitals share patient records securely with specialists to ensure patients get the best care.
 ● Building Strategies → Creating plans to keep people healthy based on gathered data. For instance,
using information about the most common diseases in a community to develop vaccination programs.
● Early Detection and Monitoring → Spotting health problems early and keeping an eye on them. For
example, noticing a rise in food poisoning cases and investigating the cause before more people get
sick.
● Control of Disease Spread → Stopping diseases from spreading further. For example, quickly
identifying and isolating people with contagious diseases to prevent them from infecting others.
● National Alertness and Preparedness → Making sure the whole country is ready to deal with health
emergencies. For instance, having systems in place to quickly respond to a new disease outbreak
anywhere in the country.

Ambulatory Care Information System (ACIS)

An Ambulatory Care Information System (ACIS) is a digital tool designed to manage healthcare services
provided to patients who don't stay overnight in hospitals. These services usually occur in outpatient clinics.

Positive:

● Real-time Access to Patient Records

● Improved Workflow - allowing more time for patient counseling and review.
● Reduced Errors - automation features help minimize mistakes (drug interactions or billing errors)
● Integrated Processes - ACIS automates backend processes like pharmacy, billing, and inventory
management, enhancing efficiency.
● Enhanced Clinical Outcome Analysis - ACIS supports research and analysis, helping institutions
address managed care challenges effectively.
● Inventory Management Improvement - Hospitals can better manage inventory, including
prescriptions and medical supplies.

Negative:

● Increased Accountability - Healthcare providers must adhere to strict standards and guidelines when
using ACIS.
● Continuous Support - ACIS requires ongoing maintenance and support to ensure optimal
performance.
● Privacy and Confidentiality - Safeguarding patient information is critical to maintain privacy and
confidentiality.
● Accessibility and Security - Balancing accessibility with security measures to protect data from
unauthorized access.
● Integration with Other Systems - ACIS needs to integrate seamlessly with other healthcare systems
to ensure efficient data sharing and management.