Information systems as a source of meaningful information in an epidemic: experience and lessons in restoring routine otorhinolaryngology care after the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has modified the information needs of participants in the public health management system and identified a lack of information for making management and health decisions during the pandemic.Aim. To summarize and provide a general description of information and data that should be available in the health information system of otorhinolaryngological health facilities for decision-making in epidemic settings based on the results of conducted studies.Materials and methods. In this study we used our own experience in addressing information challenges on optimization of otorhinolaryngological care both at the height of pandemic and after renewal of scheduled visits and hospital admissions. We considered studies under the auspices of WHO on assessment of the effectiveness of health information systems as a whole and individual works that were carried out to analyse the impact of the pandemic on provision of otorhinolaryngological care.Results and discussion. The content of data used for decision-making in a pandemic has been substantiated in the following areas: 1) provision of health care should be organized as close as possible to the patient’s personalized care plan with due account for temporal and spatial factors – it is proposed to use patient’s geographic data, patient’s health characteristics indicating the date and time they were registered; 2) health care facilities personnel should be ready to provide medical care – it is proposed to use the results of periodic surveys of health care facilities personnel with regard to their awareness of an epidemic, concern about different risks, working conditions satisfaction, motivation, and emotional status; 3) provision of health care should be simulated, and the optimal option for organizing and distributing the workload should be verified and selected – it is proposed to use service algorithms and necessary resources.