The development of a computerized information system for integrated home care in The Netherlands

ABSTRACT In September 1992, The Netherlands Institute of Care and Welfare (NEW) started development of GIRSTS a computerized information system for the new integrated home care services in The Netherlands. These services integrated home nursing and family care services, with many institutions merging to facilitate the process. Integration of services required reorganization of all of the information processes and new technology provided the opportunity for improvement in their quality. These factors of reorganisation and of new technology opportunities stimulated NIZW to develop GIRST, which is designed as a tool to facilitate provision of care. It is not focused on managerial issues but on the information needs and concerns of those who actually provide care. The process of providing home care can be divided into four stages which correspond with the four modules of GIRST: care coordination-care allocation-care in practice-care evaluation.