[The benefits prevail – why electronic immunization records are advantageous to the general practitioner and his patients].
Immunization coverage throughout the Swiss population is still not optimal and therefore preventable diseases such as measles have not been eliminated in Switzerland yet. In addition, new vaccination protocols are available and official recommendations are becoming increasingly complex. The website www.myvaccines.ch has been in use since 2011 with the primary goal to increase immunization coverage. This service was established by Vaccinologist Professor Claire-Anne Siegrist from the University of Geneva and is free of charge for all Swiss doctors and pharmacists. It enables general practitioners and pediatricians to document the vaccination history of their patients in a new electronic immunization record. After a simple and quick process, the web-based software proposes up-to-date recommendations of new or follow-up vaccinations following the current Swiss Immunization Plan by the Federal Department of Health. Within this single practice, 1446 files have been recorded within the past three years. As a consequence, a total of 4378 immunizations have been administered, leading to a mean of 3.03 immunizations per patient. After introducing the electronic immunization record, the rates of immunizations have increased dramatically for all antigens (factor 2.1 to 41.5). Overall, patient acceptance was high – the doctor’s investment was positively recognized and his approach to patient care was perceived as modern. As a result, the practice has become competent in immunization. In summary, the positive outcome of using the electronic record highly supports the free program www.myvaccines.ch to all general practitioners and pediatricians in Switzerland.
1 Praxis Dr. Burkhardt, Männedorf.
Tobias
T
Burkhardt
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005544:Forecasting; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D013557:Switzerland; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends