Community Partnerships: A Key Factor in the Deployment of an Immunization Registry

Abstract

Camden was selected to serve as the initial demonstration site for the New Jersey Comprehensive Immunization Program (NJ-CIP) based on its high recent measles morbidity; the presence of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) immunization projects; the absence of obstacles for interagency cooperation; and the potential community support for an immunization improvement project. To deploy the Immunization Registry successfully, the NJ-CIP looked to partner with two existing community agencies, the Camden Area Health Education Center (Camden AHEC) and the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative (SNJPC). Each already had relationships with the diverse health care provider community in Camden, understood community needs and provider concerns, and were credible organizations. Camden AHEC created a service bureau so that solo private practitioners with limited office staff could easily access the registry. They provided data entry, reminder/recall, and outreach functions for these practices. Both Camden AHEC and the South Jersey Perinatal Cooperative helped the multiprovider ambulatory health centers successfully incorporate the registry on-line in their clinical operation. Using existing community resources eliminates the need to develop an entirely new entity to implement the registry in the community. When identifying appropriate community partners, it is important for the organization’s mission to support the goal of the project. The organization must have access to providers who need to be reached and be able to meet expectations and program needs.