title: Development and use of a master health facility list: Haiti's experience during the 2010 earthquake response.
abstract: Master health facility lists (MHFLs) are gaining attention as a standards-based means to uniquely identify health facilities and to link facility-level data. The ability to reliably communicate information about specific health facilities can support an array of health system functions, such as routine reporting and emergency response operations. MHFLs support the alignment of donor-supported health information systems with county-owned systems. Recent World Health Organization draft guidance promotes the utility of MHFLs and outlines a process for list development and governance. Although the potential benefits of MHFLs are numerous and may seem obvious, there are few documented cases of MHFL construction and use. The international response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake provides an example of how governments, nongovernmental organizations, and others can collaborate within a framework of standards to build a more complete and accurate list of health facilities. Prior to the earthquake, the Haitian Ministry of Health (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population [MSPP]) maintained a list of public-sector health facilities but lacked information on privately managed facilities. Following the earthquake, the MSPP worked with a multinational group to expand the completeness and accuracy of the list of health facilities, including information on post-quake operational status. This list later proved useful in the response to the cholera epidemic and is now incorporated into the MSPP's routine health information system. Haiti's experience demonstrates the utility of MHFL formation and use in crisis as well as in the routine function of the health information system.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Global Affairs , Washington, DC. , USA.
authors.forename: Alyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rose-Wood
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of State, Humanitarian Information Unit , Washington, DC. , USA.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.affiliation: Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Unité de Planification et d'Evaluation , Port-au-Prince. , Haiti.
authors.forename: Roody
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thermidor
authors.affiliation: Pan American Health Organization, Emergency Operations Center , Washington, DC. , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: MEASURE Evaluation , Chapel Hill, NC. , USA.
authors.forename: Fanor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: MEASURE Evaluation , Chapel Hill, NC. , USA.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lerebours
authors.affiliation: Pan American Health Organization, Emergency Operations Center , Washington, DC. , USA.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zugaldia
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships , Washington, DC. , USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konkel
authors.affiliation: MEASURE Evaluation , Chapel Hill, NC. , USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Shoreland, Inc. , Arlington, VA. , USA.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Global Affairs , Washington, DC. , USA.
authors.forename: Carmen-Rosa
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D055866:Earthquakes; D006205:Haiti; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006801:Humans; D011635:Public Health Administration