title: An open-access, mobile compatible, electronic patient register for rheumatic heart disease ('eRegister') based on the World Heart Federation's framework for patient registers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major disease burden in low-resource settings globally. Patient registers have long been recognised to be an essential instrument in RHD control and elimination programmes, yet to date rely heavily on paper-based data collection and non-networked data-management systems, which limit their functionality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and potential benefits of producing an electronic RHD patient register.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed an eRegister based on the World Heart Federation's framework for RHD patient registers using CommCare, an open-source, cloud-based software for health programmes that supports the development of customised data capture using mobile devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The resulting eRegistry application allows for simultaneous data collection and entry by field workers using mobile devices, and by providers using computer terminals in clinics and hospitals. Data are extracted from CommCare and are securely uploaded into a cloud-based database that matches the criteria established by the WHF framework. The application can easily be tailored to local needs by modifying existing variables or adding new ones. Compared with traditional paper-based data-collection systems, the eRegister reduces the risk of data error, synchronises in real-time, improves clinical operations and supports management of field team operations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The user-friendly eRegister is a low-cost, mobile, compatible platform for RHD treatment and prevention programmes based on materials sanctioned by the World Heart Federation. Readily adaptable to local needs, this paperless RHD patient register program presents many practical benefits.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. joris.vandam@novartis.com.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Musuku
authors.affiliation: Western Cape Paediatric Cardiac Services, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Liesl J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zühlke
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Dimagi Inc, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nestle
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tadmor
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bongani M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mayosi
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000067917:Cloud Computing; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D020407:Internet; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012042:Registries; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017216:Telemedicine