The Development of a Computerized Health Information System to Facilitate Program Planning/Evaluation and Enhanced First Nations Control of Community Health Services

Abstract

The Ontario Region of the Medical Services Branch, Health Canada, comprises approximately 63,000 First Nations people living on reserve in 126 First Nations communities. As of January 1997, 39% of these communities have either assumed control of the delivery of health services or are in transfer negotiations with the federal government. Another 17% have entered into an Integrated Community Based Health Services Agreement with the federal government, which could culminate in a full transfer agreement. In order to provide First Nations with timely access to health information for case management, program planning and evaluation, and the development of their own program priorities at the community level, Medical Services Branch, Ontario Region, has worked in partnership with First Nations to develop a comprehensive, computerized Health Information System (HIS). With direct access to a reliable epidemiological database, First Nations will be able to re-profile available resources in response to their own identified community health priorities.