NEWS SOURCE: Scientific Technologies Corporation
TUCSON, AZ (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC), a leading provider of public health information technology solutions, announces the collection of the 100 millionth vaccination record by the eight states and one regional immunization management systems (IMS) supported by STC. The award winning IMS effectively reduces health care costs, protects the public health, and can assist in emergency response efforts as evidenced after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.
STC founder and President Michael Popovich said, “This is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about the commitment our clients have made to protect the children in their communities. Immunization registries are an invaluable public health resource.”
The nation’s childhood immunization rates are the highest ever recorded for most vaccines. High immunization coverage results in greatly reduced morbidity and mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that vaccines are among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Immunization registries can be extremely helpful, if not essential, to maintaining the current high immunization coverage.”
In 1993, Arizona was the first state to implement STC’s statewide registry. Designed to provide a system for the electronic capture, secure storage, and confidential management of immunization data, STC’s IMS offers proven functionality that increases coverage levels, reduces pockets of need, and maximizes limited program resources.
One of the Healthy People 2010 objectives is to increase the proportion of children who participate in fully operational-based immunization registries. The target for this objective is 95% of children under six years of age. All of the states using the STC IMS are on target to meet this goal ahead of schedule.
At the National Immunization Conference, March 6-9, the American Immunization Registry Associate (AIRA) will honor the Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids (LINKS), the Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry (HHCIR), and the Washington CHILD Profile Immunization, all of which are supported by STC. In addition to the coveted 2006 AIRA PROW Center of Excellence Award, clients received both of the first ever Special Recognition Awards, created to honor organizations that exemplified “what it means to rise to the challenge of an extreme situation and do whatever it takes to meet the health needs of their constituents.”
LINKS will be honored for tireless post Hurricane Katrina efforts to ensure that those effected could transition as easily as possible into their new situations. As the victims were absorbed into various communities, staff made LINKS data available to registries across the country, allowing children to start school and avoid the pain and cost of unnecessary vaccinations. According to AIRA, “In the midst of the devastation, the LINKS staff rose to the challenge and proved the value of their system and its data.”
Dr. Julie Boom, Director, Texas Children’s Hospital Immunization Project, and the HHCIR Staff will receive the other Special Recognition Award for their efforts to connect the HHCIR to LINKS in the Katrina aftermath. This linkage allowed children to efficiently enter school and it is estimated that the county saved $1.5 million by not administering unnecessary vaccines. This achievement demonstrated the value of interstate data sharing and the importance of data exchange standards, such as HL7, both of which Dr. Boom has long advocated.
Sherry Riddick, Washington State’s CHILD Profile Immunization Registry Manager, will receive the AIRA Volunteer Service Award for her leadership as the co-chair of the AIRA Provider Participation Committee.
About Scientific Technologies Corporation
STC is a global health informatics firm, delivering effective and reliable solutions for nearly two decades. With eight statewide immunization management systems, disease reporting and management systems for seven states as well as Dallas County, New York City, and Washington, D.C., environmental health projects both domestically and internationally, STC is widely regarded as the foremost public health solutions provider on the market today.
STC is committed to providing states and public health organizations with immunization registry expertise. Registries are one of the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing serious disease and death. Widespread immunization has virtually eliminated many serious diseases that were once responsible for millions of infections and thousands of deaths each year.
More information: www.stchome.com
News issued by: Scientific Technologies Corporation
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Original Story ID: (1368) :: 2006-03-0301-011
Original Keywords: Scientific Technologies Corporation, public health information technology solutions, Arizona, National Immunization Conference, Michael Popovich, regional immunization management systems, LINKS, Dr. Julie Boom, Texas Children’s Hospital Immunization Project, AIRA Scientific Technologies Corporation
NEWS SOURCE: Scientific Technologies Corporation | Published: 2006-03-01 20:51:00
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