BACKGROUND:
In 2001, the Indiana Immunization Registry (i.e. CHIRP) was established to assist providers in managing patient immunization records. Local health departments (LHDs) were the first to import and enter data into the registry. In 2003, annual CASA assessments began being completed for most LHDs through exporting the immunization files from CHIRP into CASA. Prior to establishing electronic CASA capability, manual assessments were completed at sites.

OBJECTIVE:
To determine if manual CASAs conducted in 6 local health departments result in higher immunization rates for 2 year olds when compared to electronic CASAs completed at the same sites.

METHOD:
In 2004, electronic CASAs were completed in 91 of the 94 LHDs using the common review date of January 1, 2004, which included children born between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001. Of the 91 LHDs who performed electronic CASA assessments, a convenience sample of 6 was chosen for the study. Sample size for each location was based on the study population used in the LHDs electronic CASA. Random number selection was used to pick the paper charts pulled. Diagnostic and combination antigen reports from CASA were used to assess for the 4 DTaP: 3 Polio: 1 MMR: 3 Hib: 3 Hep B immunization series.

RESULT:
One of the LHDs had to be eliminated from the study for not maintaining proper paper charts for the study. In the remaining five sites assessed in the study, the electronic CASA produced higher immunization coverage levels. Percent difference between the manual and electronic CASAs ranged from 1.9 to 8.0 percent.

CONCLUSION:
The results from the study showed the effectiveness of the electronic CASA method. The number of LHDs assessed in this study was not enough to generalize this information to all LHDs.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Attendees will learn about quality measurement tool to use to determine the effectiveness of electronic CASA assessments.