FHSIS reporting flow from BHS to RHU
The Field Health Services Information System is built as a
bottom-up recording and reporting structure. Services delivered at the community level are first captured on working documents, then progressively summarized as data move upward through the health system. The question asks what the BHS midwife submits
at the end of each month to the RHU, which requires distinguishing between
recording forms used during service delivery and
reporting forms used for monthly submission.
The individual treatment record and the target client list are service-level recording tools, not monthly reports. The individual treatment record documents each client encounter, while the target client list identifies the eligible population for specific programs such as immunization, prenatal care, or family planning. These forms remain at the BHS as source documents and are not what the midwife forwards to the RHU at month-end.
At the BHS level, the midwife tallies all services rendered during the month and enters the totals into the summary table, which is the form submitted to the RHU. This summary table consolidates data from the individual treatment records and target client lists into aggregate counts. The monthly consolidation table, by contrast, is completed at the
municipal or RHU level, where the supervising public health nurse combines the summary tables received from all barangays under that RHU. The consolidated output is then reported to higher administrative levels such as the provincial health office.
| FHSIS form | Level of use | Purpose | Submitted monthly to RHU? |
|---|
| Individual treatment record | BHS | Records each client encounter during service delivery | No |
| Target client list | BHS | Identifies eligible clients for specific health programs | No |
| Summary table | BHS | Aggregates monthly service totals from source records | Yes |
| Monthly consolidation table | RHU / municipal health office | Combines summary tables from all barangays for higher-level reporting | Not applicable at BHS level |
Key point! The direction of data flow follows the organizational hierarchy: recording happens at the point of care, summarization happens at the BHS, and consolidation happens at the RHU. The midwife is responsible for the
summary table, while the supervising nurse at the RHU handles the
monthly consolidation table.
Watch out! Test items frequently reverse the locations of the summary table and the monthly consolidation table. Remember that
summary belongs to the
BHS midwife, and
consolidation belongs to the
RHU nurse. The word "consolidation" implies combining multiple barangay reports, which can only occur at a level above the BHS.
The supervisory role described in the scenario is consistent with the broader principle that health information systems require clear delineation of responsibilities at each administrative tier to ensure timely and accurate reporting. The midwife's monthly submission of the summary table enables the RHU to monitor service coverage, identify gaps, and plan resource allocation across the catchment area.