242220 Using an Immunization Information System (IIS) to Track and Improve School Immunization Rates

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 12:30 PM

Cherie Thomas, BS, RN , Child and Adolescent School Health Bureau, Immunization Program, District of Columbia Department of Health, Washington, DC
Rosie Mclaren, MS , Child and Adolescent School Health Bureau, Immunization Program, District of Columbia, Department of Health, Washington, DC
Jacquelyn Campbell, RN, MSN, CPNP , Child and Adolescent School Health Bureau, Immunization Program, District of Columbia Department of Health, Washington, DC
Jacob Mbafor, MS , Child and Adolescent School Health Bureau, Immunization Program, District of Columbia Department of Health, Washington, DC
     
Background Through an active and innovative collaboration with many partners and the public school system, the DC Department of Health (DOH) has one of the highest and most accurate immunization rates in the country. DOH linked front-line data collection and clinical outreach by school nurses with “high-tech” data entry, analysis and reporting from the DC Immunization Information System (IIS). The collaboration was able to systematically improve public school immunization data collection and storage; identify and correct errors in immunization delivery; and incrementally increase school immunization rates for ACIP-recommended vaccines from 61% to over 90% in 14 months.

Methodology DOH used local partnerships to link traditional and high-technology quality-improvement strategies to overcome limited resources and achieve outstanding school immunization rates. The team utilized IIS to improve overall immunization rates and accuracy. Weekly immunization compliance levels in each school are reported to DOH and the public school system. The school nurses are provided with internet-based access to student records and recall/reminder lists of students, who are "non-compliant" with immunization requirements. Follow-up with non-compliant clients is conducted via telephone, mailing computer-generated letters, and home visits. Updated records for clients are delivered electronically and paper-based to the Immunization Program from the healthcare providers and school nurses for entry into the IIS.

Results: The DC public school immunization rate improved from 61% (August 2009) to over 90% (October 2010) for all school-required immunizations.

Learning Areas:
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective(s): 1. Describe the role of an Immunization Information System in monitoring and increasing immunization compliance in inner-city school settings.

Keywords: Immunizations, Immunizations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have 18 years of experience in Immunization Information System (ISS)development. I have worked with the District of Columbia Department of Health since 1992 and have created and developed the IIS system for the District of Columbia Immunization Program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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