Physician’s Computer Company Achieves Immunization EHR Vendor Recognition

Globally, vaccines save an estimated 2 million to 3 million lives every year. Being up to date on vaccinations leads to overall better health outcomes, higher levels of productivity and lower healthcare costs. Improved interoperability and functionality between health information technology (IT) and immunization information systems (IIS) enhance data quality spanning from the point of care to public health, with the longer-term goals of increasing vaccination coverage and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases. 

The Immunization Integration Program (IIP) brings together key collaborators like IIS, EHRs, other health IT, health information exchanges (HIEs), clinicians, public health, pharmacy and other critical partner groups to improve immunization interoperability, information sharing and management. The IIP is a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), HIMSS, the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) and Drummond Group, sponsored by the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). 

The IIP has two core components:

1. The Testing and Recognition initiative facilitates Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)-approved testing which gives EHR developers the opportunity to adopt, demonstrate and raise awareness of their software products’ inclusion of high-priority immunization capabilities.
2. The Collaborative fosters an interconnected network of immunization data exchange partners to prioritize, develop and drive the adoption of solutions to improve interoperability.

Starting in 2022, Physician’s Computer Company (PCC) engaged in piloting the recently updated requirements for IIP Testing and Recognition. Included in these requirements are the core ONC (f)(1) criteria addressing immunization messaging and interoperability, as well as a robust set of clinical features and workflows which support the safe and thorough administration and management of immunizations at the point of care. 

This participation provided PCC with an opportunity to evaluate existing immunization functionality, tune specific workflows and interoperability features to align with the trajectory of best practices in the immunization field, and obtain recommendations for future initiatives on their product development roadmap. Also, involvement in the IIP Collaborative has provided PCC with a forum through which they can directly connect with stakeholders from the IIS community, standards bodies, and public health agencies. This, in the interest of representing the experience of pediatric EHR users in the broader conversations regarding the future of immunizations in the health IT space.  

The IIP Testing and Recognition initiative gives EHR developers the opportunity to adopt, demonstrate and raise awareness of their software product’s inclusion of high-priority immunization capabilities. Undergoing IIP Testing and Recognition is offered at no-cost to health IT vendors and testing is powered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with Drummond Group as the authorized testing body.

The IIP Testing and Recognition initiative has been approved by the ONC as an alternative testing method for (f)(1) Transmission to immunization registries certification criteria within the ONC Health IT Certification Program.

Learn how to apply for immunization-centric product testing and about current priorities and solutions ready for adoption and implementation.

“As an industry leader in Ambulatory Pediatric software and services, immunization workflows and interoperability are a critical part of our vision and mission,” said Scott Kirby, Interoperability Lead, Physician’s Computer Company. “Participating in the new and improved IIP Testing and Recognition process has been a great opportunity to review and tune our existing features to maximize clinical utility and interoperability with state registries and other care providers.  We’re looking forward to continued collaboration with the IIP Collaborative in advancing childhood health outcomes through excellence in immunization workflows in the years to come.”