SSG Blog

Case Study on Vaccine Records in Massachusetts: State Department Feedback on Massachusetts Immunization Registry

Posted on October 22nd, 2024   |   SSG
Myvaxrecords

In today’s digital age, public health agencies must navigate the complexities of managing vast amounts of data to make informed decisions about resource allocation, targeted interventions, and policy development. As a cornerstone of disease surveillance and combating vaccine-preventable diseases, having a reliable system for managing immunization data is critical to improving public health outcomes. 

Below, we explore the partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and SSG and how the latter’s innovative solutions helped enhance the state’s immunization information system.  

Massachusetts Vaccine Records and MIIS  

The Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) is a central, web-based registry that collects and maintains immunization data for state residents. The MIIS enables healthcare providers and public health agencies to improve care coordination, provide timely vaccinations, and prevent adverse reactions by facilitating access to patients’ complete immunization histories. 

More importantly, the system provides vital information to support the MDPH’s broader initiatives against vaccine preventable diseases, helping them track immunization coverage, manage vaccine inventory, and monitor related illnesses.  

Challenge: Ensuring Secure, Accessible Vaccine Records During COVID-19  

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a considerable challenge to public health infrastructures globally, and Massachusetts, despite having the MIIS in place, was no exception. As local governments implemented restrictions to reduce the risk of transmission, the MDPH faced a surge in demand for reliable and secure access to vaccination records. With residents needing proof of vaccination for employment, travel, and personal safety, there was an urgent need to streamline the process. 

The state looked for a solution that could:

  • Handle large volumes of requests from the public without crashing.
  • Provide secure access while complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy regulations.
  • Integrate with the existing Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS). 

While the MIIS proved serviceable during “normal” operations, the COVID-19 pandemic was the furthest thing from normal the modern world has ever seen. This MDPH needed an innovative solution to modernize its immunization information system and meet this unprecedented demand. 

Case Study: How SSG’s Casetivity Powered My Vax Records for MDPH  

In January 2022, SSG and the MDPH launched My Vax Records. This website gave residents and their dependents access to their COVID-19 vaccination card and complete immunization records, including other immunizations administered within the state, from their mobile devices. Less than 24 hours after the launch, 265,000 individuals successfully accessed their records, covering 4% of Massachusetts’ population. 

The rollout came as Boston prepared to issue a vaccine requirement for all restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues, and other indoor spaces. To get their digital vaccine cards, users simply had to enter their demographic information and the mobile number or email associated with their vaccine records. After creating a four-digit PIN to generate a link, users can save the QR code, screenshot the information, or print out a copy (7News Boston, 2022). 

The MDPH tapped SSG to develop My Vax Records and leverage its enterprise platform, Casetivity, to streamline immunization record access in Massachusetts. Casetivity is known for its robust data management, stringent access controls, and ability to integrate with various healthcare information systems. By leveraging Casetivity’s low-code architecture, the MDPH was able to launch a public-facing tool that integrates seamlessly with MIIS in a matter of months. 

Click here to learn more about the partnership between the MDPH and SSG. 

Solution: Leveraging Technology for Efficient Vaccine Record Access  

My Vax Records leverages several key Casetivity features to help ensure the efficiency and security of the state IIS vaccine registry. First, it utilizes Casetivity’s standards-based application programming interface (API) to integrate with the MIIS. This architecture allows My Vax Records to integrate with various healthcare information systems, creating a unified ecosystem where immunization data can flow seamlessly across different platforms. 

This also enables authorized stakeholders, including healthcare providers and public health agencies, to access records for other essential vaccines, such as influenza, tetanus, and other childhood immunizations, making it a comprehensive vaccine management software that can support broader health initiatives.  

Additionally, Casetivity incorporates comprehensive access controls for managing who can view or modify public health records. These controls are fully compliant with regulatory requirements and security standards, such as HL7 and HIPAA. Compliance with HL7 (Health Level Seven International) standards facilitates seamless and secure data exchange between various healthcare systems. 

Combining these robust features with the platform’s simple, easy-to-navigate interface, My Vax Records ensures a seamless user experience, allowing users to access and manage vaccine records easily.

Results and Impact of My Vax Records on Massachusetts Residents  

As the challenges of the pandemic passed, My Vax Records continued to have a profound impact on Massachusetts’ public health initiatives. Since its launch, tens of thousands of residents have used the platform to access and update their complete immunization records. My Vax Records has reduced the strain on healthcare providers, who no longer need to handle individual record requests manually, and has empowered residents to take control of their health information. 

Feedback from both users and the MDPH has been overwhelmingly positive, with one user calling it the best, easiest, and most efficient Mass.Gov device they’ve ever used. Meanwhile, a state employee raved about the speed of the immunization tracking software, relaying how her sister got her records amended within 24 hours. 

My Vax Records is just a glimpse into the comprehensive capabilities of Casetivity in addressing the complexities of modern immunization management. SSG CEO John Schaeffer elaborates, “These tools are significant advancements in the modernization of public health business process administration.” By streamlining the work associated with tracking, reporting, and administration, public health organizations can devote more time to treating patients, expanding vaccinations, and making our communities safer (Business Wire, 2021).”  

Since 2003, SSG has partnered with dozens of states and municipalities, providing them with tailored applications to meet the demands of modern healthcare. Contact us today to request a demo and experience how our solutions can modernize your public health initiatives. 

 

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