mHealth Interoperability Survey

Stemming from our discussions at the Rwanda mHealth System Design Workshop, this brief survey outlines the possible integration points between RapidSMS and various mHealth open source projects.

OpenMRS

Open Medical Record System (OpenMRS) is a software platform and a reference application which enables design of a customized medical records system with no programming knowledge.

  • OpenMRS website, OpenMRS Developers Portal
  • Date created: 2004
  • Architecture: Java/MySQL
  • Features: Patient database with detailed visit history and metrics.
  • RapidSMS Interoperability:
    • API: Internal Java API?
    • Patient backend? via MySQL?

Vumi/praekelt

A super-scalable conversation engine for the delivery of SMS.

  • Vumi website, Vumi Developers Portal
  • Architecture: Python
  • Features: Message sending framework. Can write Vumi-level applications for deeper integration. Can be used as a hosted service?
  • RapidSMS Interoperability: support has been integrated into RapidSMS 0.13

DHIS

The District Health Information System (DHIS) 2 is a tool for collection, validation, analysis, and presentation of aggregate statistical data, tailored (but not limited) to integrated health information management activities.

  • DHIS website, DHIS Developers Portal
  • Date created: 2008
  • Architecture: Java frameworks, such as the Spring Framework, Hibernate, Struts2, Maven, and JUnit.
  • Features: Data analysis and aggregation tool. Mapping features.
  • RapidSMS Interoperability
    • API: “Rich Web API” - REST?
    • Probably easiest to push data to DHIS2.
    • Idea: Django app to model DHIS2 data structures and push on demand.

MOTECH

The MOTECH Suite is a set of Open Source technology components from a consortium of partners who have recognized that their complementary software efforts can address the core needs of mHealth.

  • MOTECH website
  • Date created: 2008
  • Architecture: MOTECH is a modular, event driven system written in Java.
  • Features: A framework with built in support for SMS registration, IVR, scheduled messages, reports.
  • RapidSMS Interoperability
    • REST API?