Technology


Key Features

‘Cloud Clinic’  

for clinics with an internet connection

‘Desktop Clinic’ 

installation for clinics with no, or intermittent internet connect. Multiple users can access the ‘Master’ Desktop installation via WiFi or wired network

Roaming Deployment:   

download a copy of the System onto a laptop for outreach work: 'sync' with the Master database when you get back to a network connection (works for both Cloud & Desktop deployments

Out-of-the-Box: 

the simplest possible EMR that can be learned quickly by novice computer-users

Modular Design: 

plugin architecture means that functionality can be extended easily; plugins can be made available on a per-clinic, regionally, nationally or to all users

Secure: 

every clinic has its own secure server and automated backup

Interoperability: 

DHIS2 interface links Cloud systems with Public Health decision makers (works for both Cloud & Desktop deployments)


Our software can run in a number of modes:

  • Cloud solution (version 4) – the software and your data reside on remote servers and you make use via a web browser.
  • Roaming – the ability to take your electronic medical records system out to remote places on a designated laptop and download the resulting records later – this works with the cloud solution.
  • Stand alone desktop – you operate a stand alone copy of the software on your own equipment, taking back-ups, arranging updates, etc as you see fit. The DHIS2 functionality will only work if the computer is regularly taken to an internet connection. This is no longer Outreach EMR’s preferred approach.

Most clinics operate a cloud solution as it allows automated back-ups and software maintenance, allowing your clinic to concentrate on treatment. Many clinics also find roaming useful, particularly if they regularly operate in remote sites.


Technical Requirements

In order to use the system you need:

  • Cloud solution: an internet-connected device
  • the ability to power the laptop up, at least daily
  • at least occsaional connection to the internet for the cloud solution
  • desktops and laptops that meet this specification if you plan to use a stand alone desk top installation or roaming:
  • Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (1909)
  • BIOS: hardware virtualization enable
  • Hyper-V enabled
  • i5, or equivalent
  • 8GB RAM or more
  • a reasonably up to date mainstream browser


Roll Out

Outreach EMR is the simplest useful electronic records system that we could design. Novice computer users can learn to use it quickly – usually in two or three days. From signature of a contract to a new clinic being set up and able to log records, usually takes less than a week for the cloud solution.



Data Location/Security


Clinics using our cloud solution use through a “software as a service” model, benefit from increased resilience, simplified maintenance and, if they wish, can set up central reporting of population wide health data to government departments through DHIS2.


The software and your data are is held on a virtual server dedicated to your clinic on Digital Ocean’s servers in India. Your data is automatically backed up daily from those servers to Amazon Web Services servers in a different Indian city.


You can download your data at any time, so if you wish to adopt an alternative solution, you can do so. Data is held using industry accepted security techniques.


Design Approach


Outreach EMR:

  • is designed for installation in clinics with no, or intermittent, internet connection
  • multiple users can access your installation via WiFi or wired network
  • is designed for outreach work and 'syncs' with your main database when the user gets back to a network connection
  • has a modular design using plugins so that functionality can be extended (at a cost to your clinic).


Additional requirements


If you have a particular requirement that is not met by the system, then it may be possible to develop an add on to meet your specific need, but there would be a charge for this.


Open source software


The system uses some open source software. That software (and the licence terms which apply) is listed here.

Technical Requirements

In order to use the system you need:

  • Cloud solution: an internet-connected device
  • the ability to power the laptop up, at least daily
  • at least occsaional connection to the internet for the cloud solution
  • desktops and laptops that meet this specification if you plan to use a stand alone desk top installation or roaming:
  • Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (1909)
  • BIOS: hardware virtualization enable
  • Hyper-V enabled
  • i5, or equivalent
  • 8GB RAM or more
  • a reasonably up to date mainstream browser


To help us achieve these goals, we use the following technologies, services and tools

  • Digital Ocean
  • NginX
  • Bootstrap
  • Tailwind CSS
  • MySQL
  • Laravel
  • PHP
  • JavaScript
  • Docker
  • SnapShooter
  • Amazon S3 Storage
  • DHIS2
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