University Times

To help ensure that patients are properly vaccinated, UPMC has created one of the first systems in the state to provide not only real-time, electronic reporting to Pennsylvania’s immunizations registry but also to allow UPMC’s clinicians to view the state’s vaccine data for each patient.

Reporting of immunizations through the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA-SIIS) is voluntary for health care providers. In 2001, the state created a web-based application that allows providers to enter their immunization data directly, rather than sending paper files.

In creating its automated, real-time feed to PA-SIIS, UPMC added more information than was required. In addition to a patient’s name, the type of vaccine and the date the vaccine was administered, UPMC hospitals and physicians’ offices provide the manufacturer and lot number of vaccinations and the name of the patient’s physicians. UPMC provides about 10,000 immunizations each week to patients of all ages.

Working with IBM and its systems integration partner Summa, UPMC’s technology team created a computer interface that allows clinicians to match information from PA-SIIS to any individual patient and to include that data when viewing a patient’s electronic health record at UPMC. The system uses IBM Initiate Patient software to link patient identity data from numerous sources.

Inpatient, outpatient and state data are provided to caregivers in a single application. Thus, physicians and nurses are able to see immunizations given outside of UPMC’s network, including those provided by pharmacy-based clinics or employee health departments.