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Health Infrastructure

The Health Infrastructure domain in the KNHTS broadly contains various components and concepts that are essential for the delivery of healthcare services. These components can be grouped into several categories, each addressing specific aspects of healthcare facility infrastructure as discussed below:

1. Core Facility Infrastructure:

  • Inpatient Services: Concepts related to the infrastructure necessary for housing and caring for patients who require admission. This includes wards, beds, nursing stations, and facilities for patient monitoring and care.
  • Operating Theatres: Infrastructure for surgical procedures, including operating rooms, recovery areas, sterile zones, and specialized surgical equipment.
  • Minimum Infrastructure OPD Block: Basic infrastructure for outpatient services, such as consultation rooms, waiting areas, diagnostic labs, and minor procedure rooms.

2. Specialized Units and Services:

  • MCH/FP Unit (Maternal and Child Health / Family Planning Unit): Facilities dedicated to maternal and child healthcare, including antenatal, postnatal, family planning services, and pediatric care.
  • CSSD Infrastructure (Central Sterile Services Department): Infrastructure focused on the sterilization and distribution of medical instruments and supplies, ensuring that all materials used in patient care are sterile and safe.

3. Support Services and Ancillary Infrastructure:

  • Supply Services Unit: Facilities for managing and distributing medical supplies and equipment, including storage, inventory management, and distribution logistics.
  • Waste Management: Infrastructure for the safe handling, segregation, and disposal of medical waste, including hazardous materials, to maintain a clean and safe environment.
  • Water Source: Systems and facilities ensuring the provision of clean and safe water, which is crucial for hygiene, patient care, and overall facility operations.

4. ICT and Connectivity Infrastructure:

  • ICT Infrastructure: Digital infrastructure, including networks, servers, and hardware necessary for health information systems, telemedicine, and electronic health records.
  • Communication: Systems that support communication within and outside the healthcare facility, such as intercoms, paging systems, telephones, and internet connectivity.
  • Internet Connectivity: Infrastructure providing access to the internet, supporting telehealth, digital records, research, and other online services.
  • Screens:
    • TV Screens: Used for patient education, entertainment, or informational displays in waiting areas, wards, or other parts of the healthcare facility.
    • Video Conferencing Facilities: Infrastructure to support virtual meetings, consultations, telemedicine, and remote collaboration among healthcare professionals.

5. Physical Accessibility and Environmental Infrastructure:

  • Access Road: Infrastructure that ensures the facility is accessible to patients, staff, and supplies, which is essential for operational efficiency.
  • Waste Management: Systems and structures for managing waste generated within the facility, ensuring it is handled and disposed of safely.

6. Facility Maintenance and Support Systems:

  • Supply Services Unit: Infrastructure dedicated to the management and distribution of medical supplies, ensuring that all necessary materials and equipment are available where and when they are needed.
  • Water Source: Ensures the availability of a reliable and clean water supply, necessary for all operations within the healthcare facility.

7. Environmental and Utility Support:

  • Waste Management: Processes and systems in place for handling and disposing of waste safely, are crucial for maintaining a hygienic and safe environment.

These concepts are sourced from the Directorate of Health Informatics of the Ministry of Health - Kenya

To access the domain, navigate to the KNHTS Homepage and select the highlighted domain below

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Refer to the Classification of Diseases page  in this user guide to see navigate around and perform actions related to concepts

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