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Background: In 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) established an incentive program to encourage eligible providers and hospitals to implement health information technology. The primary focus of this program is the implementation of electronic health record systems and their "meaningful use" (MU). A critical component of the CMS Rule is a set of public health objectives related to reporting, with corresponding measures and standards, which eligible providers and hospitals must support if the public health agencies in their jurisdictions are capable of exchanging data electronically. Submission of immunization information is one such objective.
Setting: Various clinical settings around New York City including hospitals, clinics, and provider offices
Population: Residents of NYC, and others who receive care by NYC providers
Project Description: While adult reporting is not required by NYC’s health code, the H1N1 campaign initiated adult providers to the NYC’s Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR), as they had to register and report to the CIR H1N1 doses they administered regardless of the patient’s age. Since 2009, the CIR has supported standards-based submission of immunization data via an HL7 Web service. With the advent of Meaningful Use in January 2011, the City expanded its capability to perform data quality assurance and to manage data received through this method. This presentation will review the requirements for MU for immunization; the modifications made to CIR tools and systems to support testing, certification, and increased production data exchange; and the initial uptake of these services in the provider community.
Results/Lessons Learned: Though MU testing and production support require careful planning, much can be leveraged from existing IIS procedure and implementation. Though MU requirements were imposed from outside of the health agency, their advent can be a benefit to promoting immunization data submission for all ages.