UPM-NThC donates CHITS servers to Manila, Muntinlupa, and Pasay Health Centers

February 11, 2011 2:04 am | by Noel Banez, RN | Posted in News

Six (6) CHITS servers given to selected health centers under the DOH CHD-MM project.

Mandaluyong City, Philippines – The University of the Philippines Manila – National Telehealth Center (UPM-NThC) recently donated six (6) computer servers installed with the Community Health Information Tracking System or CHITS during simple turnover ceremonies at the Conference Room of the Center for Health Development – Metro Manila (CHD-MM) in Welfareville Compound, Mandaluyong City last February 9, 2011.

The donation of the CHITS servers will prime the selected health centers in Manila (Rosario Reyes and Pedro Gil Health Centers); Muntinlupa (Alabang and Putatan Health Centers); and Pasay (MIA and San Pablo Health Centers) with the automation of health information system using an electronic health record system custom designed for government health facilities.

“Building capacities of health personnel has always been the service of the UP Manila – National Telehealth Center,” expressed Director Portia Fernandez-Marcelo of the UPM-NThC. She echoed the capability-building program that the health personnel from the health centers of Manila, Muntinlupa and Pasay cities underwent in preparation for the implementation of CHITS.

Dr. Irma L. Asuncion, Regional Director of the Department of Health’s CHD-MM recounts, “It took a while before this project was put into a document but we pushed for this because this can mean a lot in upgrading our health information system.” The project of setting-up of CHITS in selected health centers in Metro Manila was entered into an agreement last December 2009 between DOH CHD-MM and the UPM-NThC. The project mainly focused on training among health workers and installation of CHITS in the health centers. The LGU’s role in the project was to provide the workstations needed for the implementation.

“The experience of Pasay City sealed our commitment in this project because we saw the benefits,” continues Dr. Asuncion. “We are hoping that this can linked and be utilized by the CHD from the City Health Office in the future.”

CHITS was pilot-tested in Pasay City in 2004 with 10 out of 14 health centers already running on CHITS. “This year we hope to complete the CHITS-ing of our health centers,” hopes Dr. Cesar F. Encinares of the Pasay City Health Office.

“We are appreciative of the servers given to us and we are happy that we also bought our computer workstations for our health centers in Alabang and Putatan.” expresses Dr. Edilinda G. Patac of Muntinlupa City Health Office. The workstations and the donated server will complete the minimum requirement of 3 computers in a health facility for CHITS to serve its purpose.

Dr. Patac continues, “We also have other computers ready for other health centers aside from Putatan and Alabang. We are also dreaming of a citywide computerization with CHITS.”

“The statistics that we need for our report will be easier.” declares Dr. Marie Lorraine M. Sanchez of Manila City Health Department. CHITS automatically generate the Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS) and PhilHealth-compliant reports required by the DOH and PHIC.

Dr. Sanchez affirms, “We currently have 49 health centers and we are increasing in 60 and with CHITS, this will help a lot in the future for our health workers. We are assuring you of our commitment.

The turnover ceremonies were also attended by representatives from the Local Health Assistance Division (LHAD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines.