Connecting the Dots – Using data from a provider database and an immunization registry to enhance Community Clinic performance

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
1. Describe the benefits of using a centralized information system to keep track of 51 non-profit clinics.
2. Understand how to utilize data from a registry to monitor each clinic's use of the registry and their performance on a collaborative grant

Background:
San Diego's Community Health Centers are a system of 51 non-profit clinics that provide primary health care to low-income and uninsured populations. The County of San Diego Immunization Branch has a collaborative grant with 12 organizations which encompass 44 clinic sites. Providing barrier-free walk-in immunization services is the main requirement of the grant. However, clinics are also offered a financial incentive to enter data into the San Diego Regional Immunization Registry (SDIR) in a timely manner, which is defined as within less than 30 days.

Setting:
San Diego County

Population:
San Diego County Community Health Centers participating in the Collaborative Grant and the County of San Diego Immunization Branch.

Project Description:
Each fiscal quarter data is abstracted from the SDIR and entered into an access database. Data from both sources are used to provide feedback to the clinics on contract performance, and to enhance their performance delivering pediatric immunizations and increase their use of the SDIR.

Results/Lessons Learned:
• Collecting data from various sources for contract monitoring is challenging.
• Having data in one place is an efficient, time-saving process for the contract monitor.
• Feedback provides clinic supervisors and CEOs an opportunity to assess how well their respective clinics are performing toward the goals of the contract, especially since additional funding is at stake.
• Registry can easily access performance data on the clinics that they work with and intervene early if clinics are underperforming.