Data Exchange Between State IISs: Basis, Benefits and Barriers

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe how data exchange among immunization information systems (IISs) of neighboring states can increase record completeness for patients.

Background:
To date, most data exchange projects between IISs have taken place between IISs that use the same software. A pilot project was undertaken to exchange immunization data between the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) and the New York City Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR), two technologically different IISs. Residents of these states often receive immunizations from healthcare providers in the other state, and those immunizations are not reported to their resident IIS.

Objectives:
To provide proof of concept that neighboring IISs using different software can exchange data to improve completeness of immunization records.

Methods:
CIR provided NJIIS with file specifications and access to a secure website to upload input file for patients with New York State addresses. The CIR matched the patients, extracted immunization information for those found, and returned an output file to NJIIS. NJIIS processed the file and added missing immunization doses.

Results:
The file submitted by the NJIIS had 2906 records with a New York State address, the majority of which (2828) had dates of birth after 1996. Of the 2906 records, 919 had New York City address; 492 were found in the CIR and 482 had one or more immunizations. A total of 7004 immunization doses were returned of which 5594 (79.9%) were new to and added to the NJIIS.

Conclusions:
This data exchange shows that two independently developed IISs can easily overcome their interoperability challenges (e.g., file format and vaccine code differences) and exchange data. CIR and NJIIS will engage in regular, bi-directional data exchange to benefit both IISs by increasing record completeness and recalling patients who are not up-to-date. Automation of this exchange process is being planned.