This Thursday at Change, Ryan Hartford will be discussing his work at VillageReach (villagereach.org). VillageReach saves lives and improves well being in low-income countries by increasing last-mile access to healthcare services and medical commodities through an integrated solution of a dynamic information management platform, efficiently designed logistics programs that improve cold chain performance and delivery of other medical commodities, and profitable social businesses that help sustain essential infrastructure services. The organization has conducted programs in India, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal. VillageReach’s unique capacity to significantly improve community health outcomes is enabled by vrMIS, its logistics management information system that leverages wireless networks and devices for public and private health systems to efficiently monitor and analyze supply chains in real time, ensuring appropriate types and quantities of vaccines, medicines, and equipment are available when and where they are needed. vrMIS, the VillageReach platform – based on the “openLMIS” open source software – serves to improve: - the quality of data capture - real-time responses from the health system - health worker performance monitoring - inventory management - forecasting - HR requirements, personnel training, and - management accountability via superior information access VillageReach proposes to present an overview of its model and technology platform and a brief summary of system performance results and community health impact. What: Ryan Hartford on VillageReach When: Thursday, May 20th at noon Where: Paul Allen Center, Room 203