Eastern Visayas Leads the Way in FRESAAR App Implementation

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On October 17, 2023, CP Health Innovations (CPHI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) team held a pre-orientation meeting with Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (CHD) to discuss essential workflows and indicators for the Facility Readiness and Essential Services Availability Assessment and Reporting (FRESAAR) application. Guided by the region’s unique healthcare needs, this collaboration highlighted a shared commitment to advancing health system assessments through digitized tools.

Key Milestones and Activities

Refining Indicators for Tailored Assessments

During the orientation, Eastern Visayas CHD emphasized the need to divide indicators into two distinct forms within the FRESAAR app:

Internal Assessment: Self-assessment forms completed by facility staff.
External Assessment: Forms submitted by field assessors during site visits.

To ensure sustainability, the Leyte Provincial Health Officer proposed that the indicators align with PhilHealth standards. This would enable Local Government Units (LGUs) to better assess facilities’ needs and file financial reimbursement claims to enhance operations.

Key Recommendations and Adjustments

The meeting resulted in significant enhancements to the app:

Inclusion of self-assessment forms.
Removal of non-essential indicators
Prioritization of adolescent mental health indicators for PhilHealth reimbursement.
Separation of internal and external assessment workflows.
Support for multiple active batches of assessments.

The Eastern Visayas CHD also outlined a clear validation workflow based on the facility’s level:

Level 1: Approval from Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Level 2: Approval from CHD.
Level 3: Approval from National DOH.

Enhancing User Experience

To streamline usage, the FRESAAR app was equipped with both web and mobile functionalities:

Web Application: Used for internal assessments and compliance form submissions.
Mobile Application: Optimized for external assessments conducted during field visits.

This dual-platform approach addresses the challenges of device availability and ensures accessibility for all stakeholders.

Pilot Testing and Training

On February 22-23, 2024, a two-day training and pilot testing session was conducted at Kawayan RHU in Biliran. Participants were trained on:

Using the FRESAAR app for internal and external assessments.
Mock data submission processes.
Role assignments and validation workflows.

Feedback from assessors and stakeholders was integral in refining the app’s dashboard for facility readiness and compliance.

Looking Ahead: Full Turnover and Sustainability

The FRESAAR app is on track for its full turnover to the Eastern Visayas CHD and ICT offices by April 5, 2024. This will include print-ready dashboards and finalized workflows, ensuring a smooth integration into the region’s health systems. Province-wide assessments using the app are expected to commence in April 2024, with the timeline awaiting confirmation from the WHO team.

At the request of Eastern Visayas CHD IT personnel, the attendance of Region 8 DOH-KMITS representatives is planned during the turnover to ensure seamless alignment with national standards.

Continued Development and Adjustments

The CPHI team is currently fine-tuning the application based on feedback and requested iterations. Evaluations of the program’s usage and additional adjustments are progressing, as outlined in the submitted no-cost extension letter.

As the finalized version undergoes review by the Eastern Visayas CHD and WHO team, CPHI remains committed to delivering a tool that is both sustainable and transformative for healthcare assessments in the region.