The Article Developing Performance Measures for Immunization Registeres by Saarlas - Essay Example

The public health related information needs to be cohesively used and applied for optimal performance. The study amply shows how data and information were applied and managed to develop strong system of immunization registries. All Kids Count (AKC) was the first major program of the Institute in collaboration with The Robert Wood Foundation. It helped to streamline the immunization registries and promote integrated child healthcare information system. It was an important breakthrough in the development and implementation of effective and measurable performance indicators for immunization registries.

The program underpinned the principle that quantitative measures are critical elements for indicating performance in effective healthcare delivery. It also emphasized that public healthcare representatives and private stakeholders must work together to develop common strategic goals in healthcare delivery for higher achievement and for more effective outcome of public healthcare policies. AKC was distinct in its aim to integrate the public and private healthcare sectors to enhance the outcome of immunization registries.

Measurable and quantified performance indicators were used to monitor the progress of the project till full maturity of the registries. Immunization registries are population based information system that comprises of data of children’s vaccination from different providers for a specified geographical location. It is a key parameter to identify the immunization needed by children at birth and ensures that all children get the immunization shots as per the requirements and guidelines of health policy of the government.

AKC was designed to consolidate the records of children from pubic and private healthcare sector by using information technology. It was comprehensive in its goal to identify the gap in the immunization shots to the children and strengthen immunization registry by giving reminders to parents/ health organizations of the specific locality. The program was carried out in two phases: 1992-1997; and 1998-2000. 26 States and local health departments were selected for the development and implementation of immunization registries of preschool children in the defined target population.

NPO or National Program Office for AKC program was established to monitor the progress. In the second phase, 16 registry projects were used and pilot tested with refined performance indicators to test the efficacy of the system. The program was a huge success as it demonstrated the effectiveness of IT services in healthcare industry. It was able to monitor and measure the progress of immunization registries and evaluate the extent of program outreach through performance indicators that were developed to monitor the progress.

Good health of the people is key component of a country’s development programs and policies. A healthy individual is able to contribute in the development processes by working productively and participating in the socio-economic activities of the society. As such, an efficient, cost effective and quality driven healthcare system becomes hugely important issue within the broader framework of development process of the nation. The success of AKC has highlighted the need for information management system in healthcare delivery.

The consolidation of data to retrieve essential information becomes pertinent to the efficient management of programs and poli