title: A Service Oriented Architecture Approach to Achieve Interoperability between Immunization Information Systems in Iran.
abstract: Clinical decision support (CDS) systems can support vaccine forecasting and immunization reminders; however, immunization decision-making requires data from fragmented, independent systems. Interoperability and accurate data exchange between immunization information systems (IIS) is an essential factor to utilize Immunization CDS systems. Service oriented architecture (SOA) and Health Level 7 (HL7) are dominant standards for web-based exchange of clinical information. We implemented a system based on SOA and HL7 v3 to support immunization CDS in Iran. We evaluated system performance by exchanging 1500 immunization records for roughly 400 infants between two IISs. System turnaround time is less than a minute for synchronous operation calls and the retrieved immunization history of infants were always identical in different systems. CDS generated reports were accordant to immunization guidelines and the calculations for next visit times were accurate. Interoperability is rare or nonexistent between IIS. Since inter-state data exchange is rare in United States, this approach could be a good prototype to achieve interoperability of immunization information.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, School of Informatics and Computing, Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Health Information Management Tehran, Iran ; Regenstrief Institute, Center for Biomedical Informatics, School of Health Information Management Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Science, School of Health Information Management Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, School of Informatics and Computing, Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Health Information Management Tehran, Iran ; Regenstrief Institute, Center for Biomedical Informatics, School of Health Information Management Tehran, Iran ; Center for Health Information and Communication, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D066275:Health Information Exchange; D057208:Health Level Seven; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007492:Iran