MIROW: Modeling of Immunization Registry Operations Workgroup

The Immunization Information Systems Support Branch (IISSB) in partnership with the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) is working on an initiative directed at the analysis and improvement of immunization information system (IIS) operations and processes. The Modeling of Immunization Registry Operations Workgroup (MIROW) was formed to develop best practice operational guidelines for IISs. MIROW guidelines support strategic CDC/IISSB initiatives, such as IIS Data Quality Blueprint pdf icon[1 page], with detailed operational recommendations.

MIROW work provides a basis for aligning IIS practices with recommended guidelines in order to promote uniformity of IIS operations and processes, and, ultimately, consistency and comparability of public health data. The recommendations are developed at the programmatic/operational level, independent from specific implementations and technology solutions, and can support a wide variety of IIS implementation strategies across different technological platforms.

MIROW guidelines can be used to drive requirements for information technology projects and provide materials for educational and training purposes. The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) recommended to “Promote the adoption of best practices for IIS by the CDC and AIRA MIROW workgroup to adopt uniform operational guidance and quality control procedures that ensure good data quality.”

MIROW Approach

MIROW uses a collaborative approach, based on modern business analysis and facilitation techniques, to identify and analyze current IIS practices and in a focused, structured process reaches consensus on best practices. MIROW and the Best Practice Development Processexternal icon offer additional information about the MIROW process to develop best practice recommendations.

Operational Best Practice Guidelines & Related Resources

The following table contains links to MIROW guides and mini-guides, which condense and present content from the guide in a pamphlet format.

complete MIROW guideline chapters, presentations, and “Mini Guides”
Year	Guide	Status
2022	Data Quality Assurance in Immunization Information Systems	Coming in August 2022
2019	Business Continuity Planning for Immunization Information System Programsexternal icon	Active
2019	Management of Patient Status in Immunization Information Systemsexternal icon	Active
2017	Consolidating Demographic Records and Vaccination Event Recordsexternal icon	Active
2016	Decrementing Inventory via Electronic Data Exchangeexternal icon	Active
2015	Management of Patient Active/Inactive Status in Immunization Information Systems	Retired: In 2019, replaced by Management of Patient Status in Immunization Information Systemsexternal icon
2015	Micro-Guide: Lot Number Patterns by Manufacturer and Vaccine Table	Retired: In 2018, replaced by Vaccine Lot Number Patterns: Unit of Sale/Unit of Use Guidanceexternal icon
2014	Micro-Guide: Lot Number Validation Best Practicesexternal icon	Active
2013	Data Quality Assurance in Immunization Information Systems: Selected Aspectsexternal icon	Active
2012	Immunization Information System Inventory Management Operationsexternal icon	Active
2011	Immunization Information System Collaboration with Vaccines for Children Program and Grantee Immunization Programsexternal icon	Active
2009	Reminder/Recall in Immunization Information Systemsexternal icon	Active
2008	Data Quality Assurance in IIS: Incoming Dataexternal icon	Active
2006	Vaccination Level Deduplication in Immunization Information Systemsexternal icon	Active
2005	Moved or Gone Elsewhere (MOGE) Status and other Patient Designations in Immunization Information Systems	Retired: In 2015, replaced by Management of Patient Active/Inactive Status in Immunization Information Systems
2005	IIS-VAERS Collaboration for Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting	Retired: This was a pilot project for MIROW.

Resources

Williams W, Lowery NE, Lyalin D, Lambrecht N, Riddick S, Sutliff C, Papadouka V. Development and utilization of best practice operational guidelines for immunization information systemsexternal icon. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2011 Sep-Oct; 17(5):449-56.
The MIROW Evaluation Final Report pdf icon[76 pages]external icon and Evaluation Slides pdf icon[25 pages]external icon describe how MIROW best practices have been implemented across the country and the impact of three of the MIROW guides on IIS operations.
The MIROW Common Vocabularyexternal icon has been developed by consolidating the terms found in each of the MIROW guides and then applying a concise definition of each term.
MIROW Principles and Business Rules Reportsexternal icon was developed to provide the ability to search for information across all MIROW guides via a consolidated report on principles and business rules.

Who to Contact?

For additional information on MIROW, contact David Lyalin at dil8@cdc.gov.

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Page last reviewed: May 27, 2022

Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases