The statement 'Once a program/project is built in HMIS, the only way to make changes is to completely shut it down and start over' is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not sure.

Answer: (B)

In HMIS, you can implement updates to a program or project without starting from scratch. HMIS systems are designed to support changes through configuration and controlled deployments rather than a full rebuild. You can adjust data collection fields, forms, workflows, user rules, and reporting logic in place, often first in a test or staging environment, then rolled out to production with a planned upgrade window. If something doesn’t go as planned, you can roll back to a previous version using the system’s audit trails and versioning. While some extensive structural changes might require more downtime or careful planning, the blanket idea that changes must force a complete shutdown and rebuild isn’t accurate.