Surescripts adds four nationwide pharmacies to Immunization Registry Reporting

ARLINGTON, Va. — Surescripts is further extending the scope of its Immunization Registry Reporting service with the addition of four chain pharmacies — CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Safeway and Walgreens — as well as three electronic health records vendors, including Amazing Charts, Aprima and digiChart.



“Our Immunization Registry Reporting service is just one way that Surescripts is connecting health care,” said Jeff Miller, EVP and GM of clinical network services at Surescripts. “This service simplifies and streamlines the immunization registry reporting process, saving pharmacies and EHR users valuable time and resources, while contributing to the effective monitoring of public health.”



Immunization Registry Reporting is designed to improve how pharmacies and healthcare providers report required or voluntary information to public health officials by easing the administrative burden and providing timely updates to local registries for an accurate and efficient view of public health. Surescripts’ Immunization Registry Reporting seamlessly integrates into existing EHR workflows, saving time and money, and helps EHR users meet Meaningful Use requirements.



“Immunization registry reporting is a powerful public health tool and is key in advancing population health,” said Brad Wasson, Walgreens group VP, health innovations. “Walgreens Cloud EHR system allows us to share immunization data with Surescripts which helps ensure that immunization information is provided to the appropriate registry in a timely manner.”



Walgreens currently uses Surescripts Immunization Registry Reporting in 7,900 stores and sent 7 million Immunization Registry Reporting transactions in 2013. The pharmacy chain plans to roll out the service to more locations within its nearly 8,200 stores.



“Pharmacies are playing a larger role in providing immunizations through convenient locations with accessible and highly trained immunizing pharmacists,” said Josh Flum, SVP of retail pharmacy at CVS Health. “CVS/pharmacy’s participation in Surescripts Immunization Registry service will enhance the reporting of our data for flu shots and other immunizations, which will improve the ability of public health officials to monitor important information about immunizations in our communities.”



“As one of the first pharmacy retailers to adopt Immunization Registry Reporting, Rite Aid has seen first-hand how the use of this tool helps provide valuable immunization information to public health officials easily and securely,” said Dan Miller, SVP of pharmacy operations at Rite Aid. “Expanding the Surescripts network will enable Rite Aid and others to work together towards our shared goal of providing more timely and comprehensive population health management.”



Through the Immunization Registry Reporting service, pharmacies and healthcare providers can submit a uniform bulk transmission to Surescripts, and Surescripts then distributes the requested data to the correct local registry. Surescripts also ensures that local variations in government regulations are met and maintains system updates as new registries form or standards evolve. As a result, public health officials save time and resources by having a greater ability to track and measure immunization rates and plan targeted responses.