Surescripts Expands Scope of Immunization Registry Reporting with Addition of Four Nationwide Pharmacies and Three EHR Vendors

ARLINGTON, Va. – September 23, 2014 – Surescripts, the nation’s largest health information network, is further extending the scope of its Immunization Registry Reporting service with the addition of four nationwide chain pharmacies, CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Safeway, and Walgreens, as well as three electronic health records (EHR) vendors, including Amazing Charts,  Aprima® and digiChart.  Through the Surescripts network, pharmacies and EHR vendors now have efficient and accurate access, through a single connection point, to 44 state and regional immunization registries nationwide, covering 88 percent of the U.S. population. 

“Our Immunization Registry Reporting service is just one way that Surescripts is connecting healthcare,” said Jeff Miller, EVP and General Manager 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 improves how pharmacies and health care 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 Vice President, 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 seven million Immunization Registry Reporting transactions in 2013.  The national 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, Senior Vice President 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, Senior Vice President 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 health care 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.

“Immunization Registry Reporting is yet another step towards tighter integration between Aprima and Surescripts which now includes ePA, Immunization Registry Reporting, and Direct Messaging,” said Neil Simon, Chief Operating Officer of Aprima®.  “Our users can instantly report to immunization registries nationwide and share vast amounts of information seamlessly and securely across the Surescripts network, while allowing us to concentrate on our core mission of providing a quality EHR and practice management system to our customers.”