iHRIS

iHRIS is open source health information systems software that supplies health sector leaders with information to track, manage, and plan the health workforce. It is designed for use by ministries of health, professional health councils, and similar organizations. Using iHRIS, managers and other decision-makers can identify health workforce issues and plan interventions. The iHRIS software is made available under the GPL V3 license and is free to download, use, and modify. iHRIS was originally developed by the USAID-funded and IntraHealth International-led global Capacity Project with national stakeholders beginning in 2005.

Many countries are experiencing a critical shortage of health workers and are struggling to meet the health care needs of their people. To address these challenges, governments need current, accurate data on the available health workforce. Unfortunately, many countries lack health workforce data or store information in paper-based filing systems, which are difficult to access and analyze. A human resources information system (HRIS) enables countries to collect, maintain, and analyze data about the entire health workforce, including professionals employed in the health sector, those who are qualified but not employed, and those who are in training. While several proprietary HRIS products are available, most incur high costs for purchasing and customizing the software.

iHRIS is HRIS software specifically designed for use in low-resource settings. Because it was developed by projects focused on strengthening the global health workforce, the software addresses many of the needs and HR processes found in large national health care systems. Using iHRIS, decision-makers can understand the current health workforce situation and create informed, effective plans to ensure a steady supply of trained health professionals, deploy human resources in the correct positions and locations to meet health care needs, and retain health worker skills and experience in the country.

Open source is a software development and licensing model that makes the source code freely available to everyone who wants to use it. Open source software is distributed under a license that allows anyone to study, copy, and modify the source code and redistribute it in modified or unmodified form, without restriction. By adopting an open source software solution, countries can save licensing costs and avoid being "locked in" to a product that may not fit their changing needs.

We believe that a customizable, open source HRIS is more likely to meet a country's specific needs than an off-the-shelf software package.

A human resources information system (HRIS) is an information management tool designed specifically for managing human resources in the health sector. A health management information system (HMIS), also called a health information system (HIS), is an aggregate of all information systems within the health sector. HRIS is a sub-system that contributes to the HMIS, like other sub-systems such as electronic health records (EHR) systems or logistics management information systems (LMIS).

DHIS2 is an information management tool designed specifically for aggregating patient records, while iHRIS is designed to manage health worker information. These two systems use common standards and can share data with one another.

OpenMRS is an information system designed specifically for health facility management, while iHRIS is designed to manage health worker information at the facility, district, and/or national level. These two systems use common standards and can share data with one another.

iHRIS is built with a modern, web-based architecture consisting of two main components: the frontend and the backend. Both components are developed using JavaScript technologies. The frontend is implemented using Vue.js, providing a responsive and user-friendly interface. The backend is developed with Node.js.

iHRIS operates as a native FHIR-based application, meaning it runs on top of a FHIR Server for data storage, interoperability, and standards compliance.

For reporting, analytics, and dashboards, iHRIS integrates Elasticsearch for data indexing and search capabilities, along with Kibana for data visualization and reporting.

Summary of Application Requirements:

• Frontend Framework: Vue.js
• Backend Runtime: Node.js
• FHIR Server: Required for data storage and API operations (HAPI FHIR Server is recommended)
• Search & Analytics Engine: Elasticsearch
• Reporting & Dashboards: Kibana

Download iHRIS here.

Even though iHRIS uses a web-based application, it does not require an Internet connection. It can be deployed on a single computer, a local area network (LAN) that is limited to one office, or a wide area network (WAN) that may link several offices or districts together. This increases security because the system is never accessible to the outside world.

The security of iHRIS is ensured through two means:

• Password-protected logins: No one can access the system without having a username and password that is issued by a System Administrator and verified by the system every time a connection is made.
• Role-based access: When a person is issued a system login, they are also assigned a role, such as HR manager or data entrant. When someone logs in to the system, the system verifies his/her role. Based on the role assigned, there are limits to the actions that can be performed and the data that can be accessed. Role-based access prevents non-authorized staff from viewing sensitive data such as salaries, performance issues, and identification numbers.

iHRIS keeps a log of all operations, which are accessible by the system administrator.