title: Open source handheld-based EMR for paramedics working in rural areas.
abstract: We describe a handheld-based electronic medical record (EMR) for use in certain rural settings. The system is based on the Linux operating system and allows access to large mobile databases. The open source system is designed for paramedical health workers serving remote areas in rural India. A PDA loaded with the handheld-based EMR provides workers who have little access to medical doctors with different kinds of decision support and alerts. It addresses two important problems in developing countries: prenatal care and child health. This paper describes the technical challenges and innovation needed in the design, development, adaptation and implementation of the handheld EMR in a real setting in India
authors.affiliation: Decision System Group, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Vishwanath
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anantraman
authors.forename: Tarjei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khilnani
authors.forename: Vikram S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pentland
authors.forename: Lucila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ohno-Machado
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011295:Prenatal Care; D019035:Rural Health Services