Health Information Systems

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the definition and scope of health information systems. Specifically, the article seeks to identify the types and sources of data for health information systems, to present a sample of useful indicators derived from these data, to describe some techniques which may be used to portray and analyze these indicators and to discuss various categories of uses of health information systems. The health information system subject matter content is limited to five broad areas. These are: (1) status of community health, (2) utilization of health services, (3) general population and housing characteristics, (4) inventory of health facilities and health service manpower and (5) status of community environment. © 1971.