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Initial Vision
HIV medical outreach frequently occurs in resource constrained settings, often far away from primary clinical locations. Handheld computers are often more practical for data management in remote settings. In addition, cell phones are used extensively in developing countries. As such, there's a need for tools to both collect and process information related to a person's care using mobile devices. We are developing software to run on mobile devices to carry out this work. An OpenMRS server will export X-Forms, patient sets, and information about which X-Forms should be collected on which patients to a handheld computer. Software on the handheld will allow the user to look up patients, create new ones, and fill out X-forms. The completed X-Forms will be uploaded to the server and included in the main database. Possible summer projects include
(1) working on a "transport layer" so that completed forms can be sent over the web, the phone line, or by manually carrying electronic media,
(2) extending our systems ability to present data on the handheld.
Broader Goal
The development of a collaborative mobile solution for data surveys and patient monitoring.
Values
In initial discussions, the following characteristics where identified as key:
- Open Source software for collaboration
- Standardised data models for interoperability (XML)
- Mobile platform independence for portability (J2ME)
- A user interface that aims to maximize ease of use
High-Level Systems Architecture
The complete solution consists of the following parts:
Data Server
- Create and design XForms based on data set
- Can process completed XForms
XForms
Created in a standard, flexible way that specifies a set of data elements to be completed.
archive:Mobile Application
The application will be able to:
- Display the created XForms
- Manage user interaction and data collection
- Control data submission back to server.
Mobile Devices
The physical tools that will run the application.
Mobile Application
The mobile application will consist of the following components:
Presentation Layer
- PDA chatterbox interface
- Phone 1 question per screen interface
Form Controller
Basic Functionality
- XForm processing
- Navigation through questions
- Skip logic
XForm Model
( See how these interact: Mobile Xforms )
Application Shell
Basic Functionality
- Login
- View all forms
- Load form
- Browse completed form
- Send completed forms to server
Mobile Transport Layer
Basic Functionality
- Initial descriptions: Mobile Transport Layer
- Description for the Google Summer of Code project Mobile Data Collection Tools
Patient Database
Basic Functionality
- Browse patients
- Load form for patient
- Browse completed forms for a patient
Collaboration
Boston Meeting September 2007
Current Interested Parties
- South African Medical Research Council
- D-Tree
- Cell-Life
- Dimagi
- Daniel Kayiwa - Makerere University in Uganda
- Tapan Parikh - University of Washington
- Luis Sarmenta - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- OpenMRS
- EpiHandy
- EpiSurveyor
- Millennium Villages Project
- Isaac Holeman - FrontlineSMS:Medic
Development
Release Plan
Current Development
- Cell-Life's trac environment and current tickets