title: Experience implementing electronic health records in three East African countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efficient use of health care resources in low-income countries by providers and local and national managers requires timely access to patient data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To implement electronic health records (EHRs) in HIV clinics in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We initially developed and implemented an EHR in Kenya through a mature academic partnership. The EHR was then implemented in six HIV clinics in Tanzania and Uganda in collaboration with their National AIDS Control Programmes. All implementations were successful, but the system's use and sustainability varied depending on who controlled clinic funding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful EHR use and sustainability were enhanced by local control of funds, academic partnerships (mainly by leveraging research funds), and in-country technology support.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicin, Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achieng
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biondich
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braitstein
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kayiwa
authors.forename: Sylvester
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimaiyo
authors.forename: Burke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mamlin
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McKown
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Musinguzi
authors.forename: Winstone
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nyandiko
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotich
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sidle
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siika
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Were
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wools-Kaloustian
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yiannoutsos
mesh_terms: D000351:Africa, Eastern; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014600:Utilization Review