Crossing Population Borders between IHS Facilities and the Arizona State Immunization Information System

Background: Monitoring immunization coverage of any population is challenging as people seek care from multiple sources. When these sources include Indian Health Services (IHS) facilities, the challenge increases. IHS facilities use their own systems to track immunization coverage, which is often not shared with state immunization registries or between facilities. Incomplete data within the two systems make it difficult to monitor immunization coverage for the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)population. Objective:Develop a process to exchange data between IHS immunization system and Arizona's immunization registry that will also provide a mechanism for data exchange between IHS facilities.Method:Develop, using HL7 interfaces, a bi-directional data exchange between the Arizona State Immunization Information System (ASIIS) and the IHS patient management system.Result:Using ASIIS data, 4:3:1:3:3 immunization coverage for children 19 – 35 months in Arizona's Sentinel Site area (7 counties which include a significant AI/AN population) were compared before and after the implementation of the data exchange process between IHS and ASIIS. Rates increased from 29% in 2004 to 60% in 2007. The 19 – 35 population reported in the registry increased by over 700% in four years.Conclusion:

Working with IHS and tribal facilities to exchange immunization data will provide more complete immunization information for states and allow them to access coverage in the AI/AN population. Learning Objectives:Describe the steps for initiating data sharing across population and programmatic borders.Illustrate how IIS data sharing can increase vaccination coverage levels.