Supervision and evaluation of the project of the computer equipment for direct network report in the western China

Objective The purpose of this paper was to explain the results of the supervision of the project of computer equipment for direct network report on infectious diseases and public health emergency management in the western China, and to discuss the associated issues. Methods National supervision groups were organized and they went to the individual project provinces to listen to the reports on projects at the provincial level. Four percent of the project sites were randomly selected for telephone or field investigations. Results A total of 640 project sites in 220 counties of 90 prefectures and cities were selected and field investigations were made in 133 sites with telephone investigation done in 507 sites. The qualified rate of the project sites by field investigation was 90%, with a qualified rate of 60% by telephone investigation because of a significant influence of disadvantaged objective condition in telephone investigation. Conclusion Generally, the projects run smoothly except for an inappropriate equipment assignment or insufficient personnel training in one or two sites. The capacities of direct network report in the western regions advanced greatly after the accomplishment of the project, but the general level of informatization in the western China is still low and needs consistent support and improvement.