A Decentralized, Community-based Design for Statewide Immunization Registries in Minnesota

when previous immunizations have been received atdifferent clinics. Population-based immunization registries help make complete andaccurate records moreeasily available toparents andhealth care providers. Registries foster thetimely sending ofreminder noticesfor children who aredueforimmunizations andmakeitpossible for providers toquickly assess immunization rates intheir clinic. Public health officials useregistries to determine immunization rates, toidentify pockets of needwhereimmunization rates arelowandtotarget resources. InMinnesota, over85% ofimmunizations are delivered intheprivate sector. Minnesota isalso extensively covered bymanaged careorganizations with anestimated 75%ofthetotal population enrolled insometype ofmanaged care. Strong local community public health agencies ineachcounty also drive local solutions tocommunity needs. Thesefactors andothers led toade-centralized approach totheimplementation ofregistries. The"Minnesota Model" isbased onthe development ofcommunity-based registries which link together local clinics, hospitals, health plans, public health departments, andschools ineachregion. Each community-based registry isdesigned tolink toastate hub.Thisdecentralized openarchitecture design is based onstandardsfordata,