As required by law, immunization providers in Arkansas must report immunizations given to persons under the age of 22 years to the statewide immunization registry, the Immunization Network for Children (INC). After receiving consent, adult immunization records are voluntarily reported to the registry by the immunization provider. This public health option allows Eligible Professionals (EP) or Eligible Hospitals (EH) to electronically submit immunization records using Health Language Seven (HL7) to send the data.
HL7 is a standard messaging language that allows clinical systems to communicate with each other. This language also allows your electronic health record system (EHR) to communicate with the INC and will reduce your staff’s workload by electronically sending the immunization record that was previously hand-keyed into the INC.
| Downloads |
| HL7 2.3.1 specifications - The INC currently accepts HL7 2.3.1 messaging but does have the capability to test a 2.5.1 message |
The Immunization Registry will be upgrading to HL7 2.5.1 and be ready for data exchange by the end of 2012.
Steps for testing an HL7 transmission:
- Prepare a test file based on the INC HL7 spec file
- Forward the test file to the Meaningful Use Coordinator for validation on the message structure and content
- The EP or EH will receive a validation letter stating the results of the test
**Due to a large amount of requests, please allow a minimum of three weeks for processing your HL7 message**
If the test message does not have the correct structure or format, an e-mail will be sent to the EP or EH with a list of the errors and suggestions (if applicable) on how to correct and resubmit the error.
Due to the registry updates and other needed enhancements, new HL7 interfaces in production will be temporarily suspended. The Immunization staff will only be validating a test message as defined by Stage I criteria for Meaningful Use only.
Once registry upgrades and enhancements are in place, the Arkansas Department of Health will resume activities to verify that provider interfaces with the registry are operational and in production. Production messages will resume in time for EP’s and EH’s to meet Stage 2 Meaningful Use.
Disclaimer - In Arkansas, the immunization record is part of the medical record and therefore covered under HIPPA. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) cannot directly work with any EHR vendor to approve the HL7 message unless there is a provider partner. If you are a vendor, please contact Arkansas’ Regional Exchange Center (REC) to locate a provider partner.
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