BACKGROUND:
AFIX is considered an effective tool for improving immunization practices in provider offices. The CDC has developed a standards document for Level I AFIX projects, and a process evaluation tool to assist projects in evaluating AFIX activities. The Los Angeles County Immunization Program (LACIP) evaluated our IPII AFIX project with the tool to identify where IPII meets or fails to meet the proposed Level I AFIX standards.

OBJECTIVE:
To ascertain how well the Los Angeles County IPII project meets the Level I AFIX standards.

METHOD:
We compared our IPII project to the draft Level I AFIX standards self-assessment tool for 21 contract clinics that receive vaccine and funding from LACIP. We also noted the areas in which IPII meets the standards and the areas in which we could improve.

RESULT:
IPII fully meets most of the Assessment, Feedback, Incentive and eXchange standards, as well as the Program Evaluation standards. The IPII protocol clearly defines assessment methodologies and feedback procedures. IPII has an incentive distribution policy which details eligibility for items and recognition. IPII offers immunization resources and information on national and state level immunization coverage levels to its providers as part of eXchange. IPII also fully meets the Program Evaluation standard as a database with assessment information is maintained, as is information on follow-up actions, dates for completion of next steps and responsible staff is listed. However, there are some areas IPII can improve in Program Operations standard. Specifically, the IPII protocol does not define short and long-term objectives, methods for evaluating progress, or for identifying and recruiting providers outside of the contract clinics.

CONCLUSION:
The CDC tool is useful as a process evaluation and assisted LACIP in our efforts to continually change and improve IPII.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To highlight how CDC Level 1 AFIX Standards can be used to evaluate an existing AFIX program.