KEYWORDS:
Immunization, registry, public/private partnership, healthcare system, childhood

BACKGROUND:
Aurora Health Care is a community-owned healthcare delivery system providing care at 250 locations in four geographical regions throughout eastern Wisconsin. In January of 2002, Aurora’s quality council selected a care management initiative to increase the rate of childhood immunizations through the use of an immunization registry. Aurora partnered with the state public health department to accomplish this goal.

OBJECTIVE:
1. Define the initiative goals.
2. Explain the process utilized to implement the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) in Aurora clinics.
3. Discuss how the registry was populated prior to implementation utilizing historical clinic billing data.
4. Demonstrate the process utilized to implement standing physician orders using the CDC recommended immunization schedule.
5. Discuss how Aurora clinic providers and obstetrical services were enrolled in the Vaccine for Children (VFC) program to reduce the cost barrier to vaccination of children.
6. Display patient education and training materials developed to support the project.

METHOD:
A multidisciplinary team from Aurora’s south region developed a plan to train clinic staff on use of the immunization registry, implement the VFC program, and establish processes for change.

RESULT:
The initiative was successfully piloted in the south region clinics and later introduced to the other three regions. It is expected that all clinics will utilize the immunization registry by the end of 2002.

CONCLUSION:
Interventions were implemented in clinics throughout the organization along with WIR training. In January 2003, clinic childhood immunization rates among children 24 months will be measured utilizing the Clinical Assessment Software Application. (CASA)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Define the rationale for partnering with the public health department and participating in an immunization registry program
2. Explain the key points utilized to incorporate an immunization registry into a large healthcare system.
3. Identify sources utilized for patient education and teaching materials.