Included in the strategies for demonstrating Meaningful Use of EHR systems is the submission of immunization data to immunization registries or immunization information systems. This objective applies to Eligible Hospitals (EH) and to Eligible Professionals (EP).
The Virginia Immunization Information System is a birth to death immunization registry designed to consolidate a resident of Virginia’s immunization records into one complete, accurate and definitive immunization record. Currently, VIIS receives data from hospital systems, health care plans, vital records, local health departments, private providers, and pharmacies. The data provided by VIIS gives individuals, families and health professionals the tools needed to make sound medical decisions.
VIIS provides many benefits such as:
Exclusions: Because Virginia is able to receive immunization messages in HL7 2.3.1 or HL7 2.5.1, EPs and EHs cannot apply for an exclusion on this basis. If you administer vaccines to your patient population during your attestation time frame, you cannot be excluded from this measure. If you indicate that you do not administer vaccines to your patient population, please apply for an exclusion with Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
For Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 1, providers must complete Steps 1-2, while in Stage 2 providers must demonstrate ongoing progress towards Step 5. Some EP/EH have already made progress along this continuum in MU Stage 1. Providers registered in the VDH Meaningful Use Registration System will receive acknowledgement of the VDH MU status they have achieved at the end of their reporting period. Statuses include Registered, Invited to Onboard, Testing and Validation, and In Production.
Click on each step below to learn more.
| 1 | Registration:Eligible Hospital (EH) or Eligible Professional (EP) notifies public health of interest in submitting Immunization data for MU. |
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| 2 | Message Structure Validation: EH or EP generates and evaluates Immunization messages with test data. |
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| 3 | Connectivity: EH or EP sets up transport option with public health. |
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| 4 | Message Content Validation: EH or EP establishes Immunization data feed to public health for data validation activities. |
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| 5 | Production: EH or EP submits Immunization data via electronic feed and participates in periodic quality assurance activities. |
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If my practice does not vaccinate, do I still need to submit a test file?
No. Apply for an exclusion through Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Is there a site ID that must be presented in the HL7 file?
Yes. It is the VIIS Org Code that VDH will provide to the EP/EH or Vendor. The VIIS Org Code needs to be populated in the MSH4 segment.
I only administer flu vaccines, do I still need to send immunization data to the registry?
Yes. VIIS is a birth to death immunization registry designed to consolidate a resident of Virginia’s immunization records into one complete, accurate and definitive immunization record. All vaccines, including flu, are welcomed in the registry.
Can I use public health messages to communicate directly with patients?
Immunization reporting is restricted to communicating information between specified entities allowed by law to access the registry. Should patients need immunization information from the registry, they can get this information from their physician, or from the health department. To request an immunization record, please contact VIISInfo@vdh.virginia.gov.
Are pharmacies that administer vaccines contributing immunization data to VIIS?
Pharmacies are allowed, but not required, to contribute data for immunizations administered on site to VIIS.
Immunization Registry:
Christy Gray
804-864-7928
christy.gray@vdh.virginia.gov
VIISInfo@vdh.virginia.gov
Message Transport:
VDHMessagingSupport@vdh.virginia.gov