About IRIS
Iowa Department of Public Health has created IRIS, the Immunization Registry Information System, a secure statewide registry of Immunization histories.
Please take some time to browse our site to learn more about IRIS, and how it can make giving immunizations easier, safer and more efficient.
Health care providers who are interested in IRIS can request additional information by using the Contact Us page or by calling 1-800-374-3958.
History & Background of IRIS
Starting in 1988 through 1991, the United States suffered the longest continuous outbreak of measles since the licensure of vaccine in the 1960s. For the first time, children younger than school age bore the brunt of the outbreak.
Subsequent analysis of this outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the immunization rates of children at two years of age was far lower than previously believed.
In 1993, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Immunization, measured the immunization rates of two year old children who had received their vaccinations in public sector clinics. It was found that only 50% of these children were receiving the appropriate number of immunizations by their second birthday, thus placing them at risk for life-threatening diseases such as measles, polio, and tetanus (see the current recommended immunization schedule).
Among the causes found for this serious under-vaccination of children was an issue faced by all health care providers, the unavailability of immunization records. If a parent brought a child to a health care provider and did not bring a written records of the child's previous immunizations, the physician or clinic nurse was faced with the daunting task of piecing together the child's record from multiple sources. All too often, children were either under or over-vaccinated as a result.
The solution to this problem is to link health care providers through a computer network for the purpose of sharing the immunization histories of their patients. That solution for the State of Iowa is IRIS, the Immunization Registry Information System.
Enrollment in IRIS is open to the health care providers of Iowa, and is limited to those offices and clinics who are administering immunizations to patients, or who have a need to medically assess the immunization status of their patients. The Iowa Department of Public Health is responsible for the enrollment, maintenance, and support of the IRIS Network. IRIS participants are responsible for the purchasing, maintenance, and security of computer hardware which meets the system requirements found in the "Software" section.
If you would like additional information about IRIS, please submit a request by using the "Contact Us" page of our site. This page can also be used for submitting comments to the IRIS Team. We appreciate your input!
IRIS Makes Giving Immunizations Easier, Safer, and More Efficient
Following enrollment in IRIS, participants can begin to take advantage of these significant benefits.
| Software | |
A powerful
software application is provided free
of charge to IRIS participants. This valuable tool
enables the user to build a detailed database of
information on their patient's immunization history. |
| Histories | IRIS participants can use the network to search the statewide central database for immunization histories of patients
who arrive for an appointment without any written history
of previous immunizations. Patients benefit from IRIS
because records are available instantly, rather than
having to mail or phone in requests for records from
previous care givers. |
|
| Reduces Paperwork |
Many routine paperwork duties are automated by using IRIS. Tedious tasks such as writing immunization
certificates for day cares and schools are eliminated by
the software by using the reporting features that allows the
printing of the certificate.
|
|
| Inventory Control |
This feature of IRIS assists busy
office staff by reminding them when vaccines expire and
recommends re-ordering new inventory when stocks are low. |
|
| Parent Reminders |
Everyone
appreciates little help once in a while. This includes
patients and parents with busy schedules. IRIS participants can
produce postcards or letters that can be mailed to remind patients
when immunization are due. This feature can be used to
produce reminders about future immunizations, as well as
immunization which are past due. |
|
| Recommend | The
recommend feature uses the strength of a computer based
immunization algorithm to analyze a patient record, and to
recommend the vaccines from current inventory that should be given. The recommendations are based upon the
current immunization schedule which is endorsed by the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American
Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The schedule
is routinely updated when changes occur. In addition, customized
schedules can be built and used to recommend vaccines for patients.
|
|
| Permanent Records |
The central database will permanently store a copy of all immunization histories. For the first time, the public will have one place to contact for copies of immunization histories. Until the implementation of IRIS, individuals had to track down their past providers to obtain such histories. If those providers were no longer available, many people have had to be re-vaccinated. |
A software application has been developed for the use of IRIS Network participants.
The web-based interface, called IRIS, was designed as part of a continual process of improvements to the statewide immunization registry. The application includes several exciting features.
For more information about IRIS and its innovative design, we invite you to visit the interactive IRIS Online Help System.
System Requirements for IRIS
The minimum requirements for an IRIS computer are a Pentium II 266 Mhz. personal computer, with at least 64 MB of RAM, and 20 MB of free hard drive space.
It must be running Windows 98, 2000, NT 4.0 or XP as its operating system.
IRIS is a web-based application and requires that an Internet connection be available when it is used. Because of the nature of web-based applications, the faster your connection is, the faster IRIS will be. We strongly recommend that IRIS be used with at least a 56 Kb connection, faster connections are preferred (i.e, T1, DSL, Cable, etc).
