Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe an automated method of promoting VFC accountability

Background:
From August 2004 to July 2005, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Vaccines for Children program (VFC) provided 2,210,842 doses to 1,746 providers. To ensure VFC vaccines are used for eligible children, providers are required to complete a Doses Administered Report (DAR). DARs are tedious for providers to complete and taxing to VFC staff as data from this report are manually entered into VFC's Vacman. Providers who report to CIR regularly have requested exemption from completing DARs as doses administered can be directly measured in CIR.

Objectives:
To increase the accountability of VFC purchased vaccines, reduce amount of paperwork for provider and VFC staff, and increase CIR completeness.

Methods:
CIR and VFC staff developed a database that linked VFC provider identification numbers and CIR facility codes. For providers requesting exemption, data from VACMAN and from CIR were aggregated and reports comparing doses shipped by VFC to doses reported to CIR were produced for each provider. If doses reported were within 80% of those shipped, the provider was exempted from having to complete the paper report.

Results:
During this time period, 84 providers have requested exemption from completing the DAR; 71 have been exempted. The CIR is working with the remaining 13 providers to improve their reporting to CIR.

Conclusions:
Collaboration between the CIR and VFC has resulted in a reduction in the amount of data entry for both providers and VFC staff. In addition, this project identifies providers not reporting fully to the CIR, and helps increase CIR completeness. Plans are to actively identify additional providers eligible for DAR exemption in an effort to expand this initiative.