Arizona Partnership For Immunization

TO FOSTER A COMPREHENSIVE, SUSTAINED COMMUNITY PROGRAM FOR THE IMMUNIZATION OF ARIZONANS AGAINST VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES.

BILLING PROGRAM: TAPI HAS IMPLEMENTED A COST RECOVERY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. MANY INSURED PATIENTS SEEK SERVICES THROUGH THE COUNTY IMMUNIZATION CLINICS BUT COUNTIES LACK THE TOOLS TO BILL FOR THE SERVICES. TAPI STAFF, MEETING ALL PROFESSIONAL, PRIVACY AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, CONTRACT WITH THIRD PARTY PAYERS AND RECOVERS FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF VACCINE DELIVERY. THIS NEW REVENUE STREAM FOR COUNTY IMMUNIZATION CLINICS HAS MAINTAINED PUBLIC NURSING STAFF IN TIMES OF BUDGET CUTS.

COALITION BUILDING: SINCE 1992 TAPI HAS DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED A COMMUNITY COALITION OF IMMUNIZATION STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOPED COMMON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. THOUGH THE MISSION OF TAPI HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME, THE COALITION OF OVER 400 ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOCUSES ON MEETING HEALTHY PEOPLE OBJECTIVES AND REDUCING THE SPREAD OF VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES TO CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS AND SENIORS IN ARIZONA. THE COALITION OF STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS, ALONG WITH PRIVATE SECTOR INSURERS, PRIVATE PHYSICIANS, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES HAVE RAISED ARIZONAS IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE LEVELS TO MEET OR EXCEED NATIONALS STANDARDS.

COMMUNITY AND PROVIDER EDUCATION: COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION ARE KEY FACTORS IN REMOVING BARRIERS TO IMMUNIZATION. MANY INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF VACCINATION IN WARDING OFF DISEASE, BUT FEW UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL VACCINATED COMMUNITY IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND MESSAGES DEVELOPED BY TAPIS COMMUNITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE, APPROPRIATE TOOLS ARE DEVELOPED FOR ALL PARTNERS IN THE IMMUNIZATION COALITION. UP TO DATE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT INCLUDE THE IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN, TEENS AND FAMILIES. THESE CAN BE OBTAINED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH THE TAPI WEBSITE, WWW.WHYIMMUNIZE.ORG AT NO COST. DOCTORS, NURSES AND MEDICAL OFFICE STAFF ARE CONSIDERED EXPERTS WHEN IMMUNIZATIONS ARE THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. PEDIATRICIANS, FAMILY PHYSICIANS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE KEY PARTNERS IN REACHING AND MAINTAINING OUR GOAL OF 90% AGE APPROPRIATE IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE LEVELS OF OUR 2 YEAR OLD CHILDREN TO ESTABLISH IMMUNITY TO VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES. BOTH IN PRACTICE AND IN MESSAGE, THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR PATIENTS AND/OR PARENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT IN A DECISION TO IMMUNIZE. TAPI WORKS WITH PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE IMMUNIZATION BEST PRACTICES TO ARIZONANS OF ALL AGES. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT PROVIDE UP TO DATE, COMPREHENSIVE TRAININGS FOR ALL LEVELS OF MEDICAL OFFICE AND CLINIC STAFF. THE GOAL IS TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS OF IMMUNIZATION DELIVERY AND SCIENCE-BASED COMMUNICATION TO ALL ARIZONANS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFESPAN.