The HIMSS Immunization Integration Program (IIP) proudly recognizes Office Practicum as successfully testing their product and successfully achieving standards. The IIP was developed to advance the inclusion of enhanced immunization capabilities in EHRs and improve the exchange of data between EHRs and IISs which will help ensure clinicians and public health entities have the data needed for optimal decision making in order to improve the health of individuals and populations. The voluntary testing and recognition program advances the inclusion of immunization-related capabilities within EHRs and other clinical software.
“Since Office Practicum's creation over 20 years ago, OP has been dedicated to empowering pediatricians to give great care to the children and adolescents of the communities they serve. At the core of pediatric preventive medicine is timely delivery of immunizations. Certification through the HIMSS Immunization Integration Program supports our commitment to having the most robust immunization functionality available so that our practices can be confident they have the most up-to-date and comprehensive technology to ensure their patients and communities are protected from vaccine preventable illnesses," said Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, medical director, Office Practicum. The IIP is conducted in collaboration with the Drummond Group and Chickasaw Health Consulting, LLC (CHC) under a contract with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), the testing and recognition program:
- Facilitates agreement on priority immunization-related software capabilities that align with clinical workflows
- Enables software developers to voluntarily test and achieve recognition of their products for inclusion of immunization capabilities
- Provides guidance for improving usability of immunization-related software functions The testing and recognition program has earned approval from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an alternative testing method for the ONC Health IT Certification Program.
The program goes beyond the baseline established in the ONC f1 module, testing vendors on additional advanced capabilities identified as most needed by pediatricians and other providers. Advanced capabilities include vaccine inventory management, transmission of vaccine deferral, adverse event reporting and modifications of antigen recommendations based on serology results, and patient cohort reporting.
HIMSS Immunization Integration Program
A collaborative effort supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the IIP seeks to empower organizations to better facilitate the flow of immunization data and improve U.S. immunization rates, which are linked to better health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and higher clinician productivity.