What is I-CARE?

I-CARE, or Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange, is an immunization record-sharing computer program developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The program allows public and private health care providers to share the immunization records of Illinois residents. Currently, the program contains more than 37 million immunization records.

Besides keeping track of the immunizations a child has already received, I-CARE forecasts immunization due dates based on the nationally recognized “Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule.” These recommendations are approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

What is the purpose of I-CARE?

I-CARE is designed to help health care providers record, track and report their patients’ immunizations. Participation is voluntary. The registry allows physicians to access patient records for information about immunizations administered outside their practices.

What is the goal of I-CARE?

The primary goal of I-CARE is to increase the immunization coverage level of Illinois’ 2-year-olds to 90 percent. In 2008, approximately 77 percent of Illinois’ 2-year-olds were properly immunized, according to a National Immunization Survey.

While this goal focuses on 2-year-olds, keep in mind that patients of all ages can be included in the I-CARE program.

How does I-CARE work?

I-CARE users can exchange data with the statewide registry in one of two ways:

• Electronic Data Exchange using Health Level 7 (HL7)
• I-CARE web-based computer program

Electronic Data Exchange allows the sharing of electronic data in a structured HL7 compatible format between computer programs. It allows health care facilities with their own HL7-compatible Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems to share information with I-CARE.

Click here for additional information on HL7 data exchange with I-CARE.

The I-CARE computer program is robust, allowing health care providers to collect, store, analyze and report immunization data at individual sites.

Here are the main features of the computer program:

• Calculation of immunization due dates
• Print option for school physical form and patient immunization history report
• Remind/Recall feature to track and notify patients of due dates
• Vaccine inventory feature to track usage by lot number
• Record of patient contraindications, adverse reactions or immunities
• Assessment of immunization coverage levels for a practice
• Appointment feature to log and notify patients due for shots
• Refrigerator/Freezer Temperature Log feature to track and report vaccine storage appliances
• Report creation feature for several required forms and reports
• Vaccine Information Statement module to update and print VIS forms and report

What about security and patient confidentiality?

I-CARE is designed to protect patient confidentiality while providing access to statewide registry information. Confidentiality is maintained through several security controls.

Open access to the statewide registry is not allowed. Only registered I-CARE users have access to the data and information is available only on a need-to-know basis. In other words, an I-CARE user cannot browse through patient records. Specific name or ID search criteria must be used to access information in the statewide registry.

An audit log at the statewide registry tracks all updates to patient records and which I-CARE user made each update. In addition, a site can only produce reports for patients seen at its clinic site.

What kind of equipment is needed to operate I-CARE?

A high-speed Internet connection is needed to access the I-CARE website and Adobe Reader is used to open and print reports and forms.

What if a patient does not want to participate in I-CARE?

A patient, or a child’s parent or guardian, must give consent to be included in the statewide registry. If consent is not given, the patient can still be included in your I-CARE clinic. However, this patient’s information will NOT be shared outside your clinic.

Keep in mind that any patient, of any age, can be included in your local I-CARE clinic, thereby allowing you to use the program’s tracking and reporting capabilities for all of your patients.

How do I register to use I-CARE?

Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health if you would like to register for the I-CARE program. License agreements and other registration materials will be sent to you to complete and return. The Department will then send you instructions to create a web portal (Internet) account to access I-CARE.

If you would like to register for I-CARE or if you have questions, please call the Department’s Immunization Registry staff at 800-526-4372. Staff are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.