Solving the sync challenge: OpenMRS Sync 2.0

Digital health continues to change the way health systems reach communities around the world. However, when internet connectivity is limited or intermittent, health workers do not reap the full benefits of digital tools. This is a barrier that SolDevelo is working to remove. Last year, SolDevelo began working on a new module for the Open Medical Record System (OpenMRS), an open source medical records platform.

Started as a quick fix for a single Kenyan clinic’s database, OpenMRS is now one of the most frequently used open source medical record software system in the world. Today, OpenMRS is accessed at nearly 3,000 sites and contains 9 million registered patients. The system gathers a patient’s treatment details into a single patient chart that enables healthcare workers to create treatment plans based on a client’s full medical history. However, if records cannot be easily synced to the system, health workers will not have access to the most up-to-date information on their patients.

Using Sync 2.0, health workers can plan when to send their data, know when data was not properly sent, and have duplicate patient records resolved.

The new module developed by SolDevelo, called OpenMRS Sync 2.0, improves the synchronization of data by providing a way for health workers to manually sync their data at a central office. Using Sync 2.0, health workers can plan when to send their data, know when data was not properly sent, and have duplicate patient records resolved. More predictable syncing helps prevent medical errors and ensures patient records are updated system-wide. As a long-time contributor to the OpenMRS community, SolDevelo saw the importance of these features. They began developing Sync 2.0 as a pro bono effort before pursuing funding through Digital Square.

OpenMRS’ success draws from its mission: Write code. Save lives. Organizations, corporations, and institutions who share its mission, like SolDevelo, have signed up to develop and implement the software. SolDevelo connects two distinct communities: technology and social impact. Over the years, the company has worked on many projects with OpenMRS.  Maciej Neumann, Foundation Leader of the Soldevelo Social Impact Foundation writes, “We care. Our goal is to use our technical skills to help make the world a better place. We use our technical expertise to improve the socio-economic conditions of developing countries. We believe in the power of open source software and have supported it since our founding.”

Data is a powerful tool, and OpenMRS Sync 2.0 builds confidence in the timeliness and accuracy of patient electronic medical records. When faced with limited internet connectivity, health workers now have a tool that keeps them connected and their patient’s health records up-to-date. As a result, health systems can now address outbreaks faster and provide more efficient health services.