CAIR-SDIR can link with your electronic patient management system or medical record (EMR/EHR)

CAIR-SDIR has support for both importing and exporting batch data as well as HL7 exchange following the CDC’s Implementation Guide for Immunization Registries. SDIR currently has several active HL7 processes. The San Diego County’s Public Health Information System (PHIS) sends updates to SDIR over a dedicated socket connection, and SDIR can send back updates of shots administered over another socket. Family Health Centers (FHC) of San Diego uses HTTPS to make HL7 requests to SDIR as well as send updates back. SDIR also has support for processing HL7 batch files in XML format. SDIR also supports interaction with the State of California supported CAIR software and other IIS through HL7.

Some important questions to ask yourself and your information technology (IT) support regarding electronic data interfaces with the CAIR-SDIR:

What is the cost?

• Who will pay for registry interface?
• Who pays for the cost of testing the interface?
• How are updates or new versions of EMR software disseminated?
• Do different Providers use different versions of the same EMR?

What is the EMR capability in terms of storage and transmittal of patient immunization data?

• Is the EMR used to collect all information required by State law?
• Is the EMR used to collect all data required by the VFC program?
• Is the EMR used to collect all data required by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Act?

Who are the key contacts and relationships which need to be involved in the planning & implementation of the ata interface?

• Who is the health care provider’s EMR/registry contact?
• Who is the vendor’s technical contact for registries?
• Who is the vendor’s policy contact for registry interfaces?
• Is there a buying group or user group contact?

How has or will the EMR be implemented?

• Are or will any paper files be maintained?
• Will the EMR be implemented gradually or all at once?
• Will data be stored in standard fields using standard code sets?
• How will histories be put into the EMR?

What will be the content of the HL7 message?

• What data will be in the HL7 message?
• Do any of the codes used in the EMR need to be translated to HL7 code sets? If so, who will do the mapping?
• Are the data elements the registry requires/wants available in the EMR?
• Does the Provider populate the desired fields?
• Does the EMR have basic edits? Allow dates in the future? Vaccines administered before birth?
• How are mistakes in the EMR corrected?

How will HL7 messages be sent to the registry?

• Will messages be sent in batch or real time?
• If batch processes are used, is this process automated?
• What is the expected timing and volume of messages?

What are some examples of desired fields in an EMR and/or an immunization registry that may not be available in one or the other?

• Parent/guardian information
• Insurance or diagnosis (ICD 9) codes
• Vaccine for Children (VFC) codes

For additional resources regarding electronic data interfaces and immunization registries, click here for the HL7 guide and IIS codebook: http://www.immregistries.org/pubs/index.phtml

If you would like to consider an electronic data interface with SDIR, please contact the SDIR Manager by calling (619) 692-5656 or by email: sdir@sdiz.org

return to top >>