Monday, October 18, 2004 - 3:35 PM
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EHR Update: Integrating Immunization Registries with Electronic Medical Records

BACKGROUND:
There are a number of critical barriers to populating immunization registries, especially from the private provider community. Early attempts have been made to absorb medical billing data with mixed success. Electronic medical records show greater promise as a direct source of data for a variety of public health systems initiatives.

OBJECTIVE:
To describe the evolution of electronic health records (EHR) systems, and the opportunity they present to improve data submission to immunization registries.

METHOD:
A retrospective review of computer-based patient records systems, and their evolution to electronic medical records and (now) the electronic health record, was completed. A range of possible strategies to integrate these systems with immunization registries was developed drawing upon examples in production in the US. Current national initiatives, including the NHII, HL7/EHR,CCR, CHI and PHIN were analyzed in the context of this material.

RESULT:
Registry projects have a number of practical alternatives with respect to provider systems integration, and a number of reference sites to more closely examine. Tradeoffs exist among these alternatives.

CONCLUSION:
The current national initiatives have begun to breathe new life into data integration projects. It is important for registry manager and immunization program managers to understand and be aware of these developments.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To understand current national initiatives related to the electronic health record and their potential impact and usefulness to registry integration.

  Recorded presentation

See more of Electronic Health Records: New Opportunities Are Emerging!
See more of The 2004 Immunization Registry Conference