All Kids Count 1991-2004: developing information systems to improve child health and the delivery of immunizations and preventive services.

The All Kids Count program began in late 1991 with funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The purpose was to improve child health and the delivery of immunizations and preventive services through the development of health information systems. All Kids Count concluded in mid-2004 having worked directly with 38 state and local health agencies through its grant and Connections program. The lessons learned from the 13-year program are applicable to other public health and medical care initiatives. Health information systems projects should: (1) involve stakeholders from the beginning- (2) recognize the complexity of establishing a population-based information system- (3) develop the policy/business/value case for information systems- (4) define the requirements of the system to support users' needs- (5) develop information systems according to current standards- (6) address common problems collaboratively- (7) plan for change- (8) plan boldly but build incrementally- (9) develop a good communications st