BACKGROUND:
Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) administers the Central New York Immunization Registry (CNYIR), and the local LeadTrac, a database used to conduct surveillance of pediatric blood lead levels in the county. NY State requires lead testing for children at ages one and two, and enters all test results into LeadTrac. To increase the numbers of children tested locally for lead, LPCP collaborated with the CNYIR to identify children lacking lead tests and referred them for appropriate follow-up and testing.

OBJECTIVE:
To increase the number of children tested for lead through electronic data sharing between LPCP and CNYIR.

METHOD:
Approximately 20,000 records from CNYIR and 31,000 records from LeadTrac databases were cross-referenced using a unique identifier. Records from the CNYIR without a matched record in LeadTrac were selected and, after multiple cycles of data cleaning, were designated as "lacking a lead test". The Health Department sent letters to parents and providers of these children requesting appropriate follow-up. LPCP subsequently queried the LeadTrac database to monitor children tested as a result of this mass-mailing.

RESULT:
Letters were sent to parents and providers of 2,285 children ages 1-6 consented for the CNYIR and identified as "lacking a lead test". Within 2 months after the mass mailing, at least 150 new children were tested for lead.

CONCLUSION:
Electronic cross-referencing of client databases can be a valuable tool for reaching non-serviced groups. Public health programs serving similar populations (e.g. children ages 1-6) should consider using data sharing to enhance parent/provider outreach and education efforts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Immunization registries can serve as valuable source of data for a variety of public health programs.