This conceptual paper builds upon the six building blocks of the World Health Organization's (WHO) systems' framework to examine systematically the integration of functioning information in health systems.
The objectives of this paper are i) to provide preliminary findings of a systematic literature review that aims to identify the added value of integrating functioning information into casemix systems, and ii) to raise challenges in integrating functioning information into casemix systems for discussion with experts.
English-language papers describing empirical studies that include a comparative component in their study design, account for functioning information in casemix systems, and those published in peer-reviewed international journals will be included.
Though, there is agreement that disease-specific and functioning information are conceptually complimentary, health systems could be further optimized by accounting for health and how it plays out in everyday life on an operational level.
Laerum et al. comment vaguely that "technology alone is not sufficient to achieve a well functioning electronic information system" [[ 18], p.1347].
For example, a well functioning health information system requires not only the appropriate technology and logistics that could be evaluated using experimental or quasi-experimental designs, but also political commitment in the use of information.
The foundations of public health presuppose the ability to quantify and monitor relevant health indicators of the population, making a functioning health information system essential for a functioning health system (AbouZahr and Boerma 2005).
To support these priorities, an effective, functioning human resource information system needs to be in place, which can be used to monitor staff distribution, client/patient numbers and thereby staff workload, and inform implementation of the Human Resources for Health Strategic Plan.
