CDC Forms New Team and Work Group
Focusing on Provider Participation

One of the four objectives from the 1999 National Vaccine Advisory Committee report on immunization registries was to "ensure participation of all immunization providers and recipients." In efforts to meet that objective, CDC has recently formed a Provider Participation Team (PPT) to facilitate the identification of issues and the implementation of solutions regarding participation in immunization registries. Serving on the Team at NIP are: Karen Fowler, Chair; Pat Bakalian; Amanda Bryant; Dontanette Cohill; Angela Salazar; Alton Reddick; and Cathy Stout. Also in progress is the formation of a Provider Participation Work Group (PPWG), which includes representatives from the private sector (such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, managed care and other organizations), first to provide input in identifying the challenges and then to develop and implement a plan to address the issues.

Since January, the Team has been investigating the status and issues of provider participation nationally as well as state and local efforts toward provider recruitment and retention. A "Question of the Month" recently went out to state immunization programs asking for information on their provider participation activities. Plans are to collect marketing plans, results from surveys and focus group, and even anecdotal stories - to learn what states have been doing to promote provider activity in registries. The information collected will be made available to any registry project wishing to benefit from other's experiences. Another Team activity is working with the University of Michigan to conduct a national survey of physicians. The goal is to learn what providers know and think about immunization registries and to hear what it will take to assure their participation. The Immunization Services Division at NIP is funding this survey.

The PPT and PPWG welcome your input on issues and solutions, your experiences, and ideas for activities. Any questions or comments can be made to Karen Fowler at 404-639-8295 or via email at kgf1@cdc.gov.

Source: Karen Fowler, CDC National Immunization Program.

June 2001 SnapShots Headlines