Health & Environmental Records System

Empowering data driven decisions for improved health outcomes in displaced & low resource populations

Connecting the dots between health and environmental data. 

The Health & Environmental Record System (HERS) provides data analytics and modeling tools to empower data-driven decision making at the individual, clinic, population, and environmental level. By providing integrated, actionable insights, we aim to bridge critical information gaps and enhance the decision-making capabilities of front-line healthcare workers and public health professionals. HERS is designed for use by public health researchers, Community Health Workers, and clinicians in low-resource settings.

Connecting the dots between health and environmental data. 

An integrated EHR (recognized by the computer system) collects environmental data from local and remote sensors (like the one measuring climate shown on the left). This data is combined with health records to identify patients at risk (marked in red). The system produces three main results:

  1. For individuals (top flowchart), it helps doctors provide targeted care, such as advice and medication, to prevent worsening illnesses.

  2. For the health system (middle flowchart) and government (bottom flowchart), it helps with planning and policy decisions to improve public health and support at-risk groups on a larger scale.

Features

Data Integration

Connect fragmented health and environmental data streams into one unified platform. HERS seamlessly merges electronic health records with real-time climate data, air quality metrics, and water contamination reports to provide comprehensive insights for displaced populations.

Predictive Analytics

Advanced time-series analysis and machine learning algorithms identify patterns between environmental changes and health outcomes. Forecast disease outbreaks, resource needs, and intervention opportunities before crises escalate in vulnerable communities.

Smart Alerts

Automated notification system flags high-risk patients when environmental conditions threaten their health. Clinicians receive real-time warnings about asthma patients during poor air quality days or heat-sensitive individuals during extreme weather events.

Resource Optimization

Geo-spatial modeling tools help camp coordinators and public health officials allocate resources efficiently. Visualize population health trends, identify intervention hotspots, and simulate "what-if" scenarios for evidence-based decision making.

Clinical Integration

Direct EHR integration puts environmental health insights at clinicians' fingertips. Patient records automatically display relevant environmental risk factors, enabling proactive care management in low-resource settings without disrupting existing workflow

Use Case: Miami Rescue Mission

The HERS project is partnering with Miami Rescue Mission Clinic in Florida to launch the first of its kind integration of real-time Environmental and Health Data at the point of clinical care.

This initiative is particularly close to our organizational mission as it primarily focuses on the un-housed and at-risk populations.

Publications

  • Integration of environmental data into electronic health records for clinical and public health decision making: A viewpoint on expanding development in the United States (2025)

    Journal of Medical Internet Research

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