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AIRA Registry Profiles Update
AIRA is excited about the progress being made on its redesigned and expanded web site, in particular, its Registry Profiles. These Profiles are designed to give the user an overview of the core functionality of each registry. We are hoping to go online with a test version of the new web site by the end of January and want to give readers a brief preview of the Registry Profiles.
Clicking on the special Registry Profiles icon on the top or side navigation bar of the AIRA web site brings up the opening page of that section. From here, a user has three options for selecting a profile to view: clicking on a state from the U.S. map will list all the registries in that state; clicking on a letter in the alphabet will list the registry names beginning with that letter; or Advanced Search, which will list all registries that satisfy the user’s search criteria.
Most of the data elements that comprise each profile come from the Immunization Registry Annual Report (IRAR) that every registry files with the CDC. While the IRAR covers much about a registry from a programmatic point, there was additional technical and operational information we wanted to include. To capture that information, the profiles will contain optional questions that an authorized user from each registry can answer directly online and which will become part of the profile. An ad hoc committee was convened to identify both the subset of IRAR data elements to include and also the optional information that we wanted to capture. The end result is a profile that gives a good picture of each registry: their level of functionality, scope of use and special characteristics.
From the IRAR, we chose to highlight such items as which systems do they provide access to (schools, WIC clinics, hospitals, etc.); is the registry used for any vaccine management; which of the minimum functional specifications do they satisfy; is the data used for AFIX or HEDIS reporting; etc. The additional questions asked of each registry include: are they a PROW implementation site and/or a sentinel site; is reporting to the registry mandated by law; are they actively involved in a coalition. All these pieces of information are searchable. For example, building a list of all the registries that share data with MCO’s or track vaccine inventory at the provider level are easily done.
Programmatic and technical contact information is captured to ease the way for registries to connect with one another. To reflect the full immunization registry community, the profiles will also list contact information for all the regional registries that fall under a centrally reporting registry. And all registries will have the option of noting anything special about their implementation that they want to share.
Response from those that viewed the Registry Profile prototype in the AIRA booth at the 2003 Immunization Registry Conference was very positive. The potential for these profiles to serve as a key resource for registries to share their know-how and learn from each other is great and was clear to those that saw the demo. Keep your eyes open for the announcement on the roll-out of AIRA’s expanded web site and the new features it offers in support of the development and advocacy of immunization registries.
Source: Ina Kichen, AIRA