Florida SHOTS™: Keeping SHOTS in Check

If your office uses Medenet software, you can implement data upload. Here’s how:

1. Contact either Charles Gaudreau (727-823-2188, cgaudreau1@medenet.net) or Ericka Merrill
   (727-823-2188, erim@medenet.net) at Medenet to order the Florida SHOTS immunization interface.
2. Contact Holly Graff, Florida SHOTS Implementation Specialist at 904-755-5167, or Holly_Graff@doh.state.fl.us in order to complete the forms to receive a secure ftp site from Florida SHOTS.

Immunization data will be uploaded automatically to Florida SHOTS on a daily basis.

Florida SHOTS is growing and expanding in reach, services, and capabilities. Over the past year, Florida SHOTS has introduced a blog, H1N1 vaccination ordering, and much more.

Our popular eTracker is now available in Spanish. Both Spanish and English versions can be downloaded at www.flshots.com/resources.

We know your time is valuable. That’s why we’ve created the Florida SHOTS Shortcut Guide. This great reference tool gives you quick access to the Vaccine Information Table and our most frequently asked questions.

If you’re looking for more extensive information about Florida SHOTS, you can download a copy of our complete user guide, which can be accessed through the Customer Service menu once you have logged into your account, or participate in our Web-based training.

The growing complexity of the immunization schedule makes it difficult for health-care providers and parents to keep track of which vaccines are due and when.

Busy practices have found that Florida SHOTS can assist them in the challenges of assessing ever-changing and complex immunization requirements and schedules involving different vaccine manufacturers and combination vaccines.

Florida SHOTS was designed with functionality that provides the following benefits to providers.

• Immunization records from all providers are consolidated into one record per patient.
• Immunization information is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The registry provides a reliable immunization history for any child, whether a new or continuing patient.
• It identifies patients’ previously reported contraindications.
• The registry provides definitive information, reminders and recalls on immunizations that are due or overdue.
• The registry produces the legal immunization record (DH Form 680) required for school, camp, and day care center attendance.
• It allows providers to create a system-certified electronic 680, which is kept in Florida SHOTS where it is accessible directly to schools, licensed child-care centers and other medical providers that are Florida SHOTS users.
• It generates immunization reports for managed-care organizations.
• The registry reduces paperwork by automating inventory, reporting, recall and reminder functions.
• It provides current recommendations and information on new vaccines.
• The registry facilitates introduction of new vaccines or changes in the vaccine schedule.

Florida SHOTS staff have heard many anecdotal accounts that using the registry saves offices time in all tasks related to immunizations—from determining shots to be given to using the registry to store and print shot records. In order to quantify what actual time savings are, we timed immunization record-keeping-related tasks in participating Florida SHOTS offices.

Key Finding #4:
By using Florida SHOTS for a typical patient visit rather than hand writing a 680, you save on average 10 hours per 1,000 patient immunization visits. (This includes time spent using Florida SHOTS to search for the patient’s immunization history, adding missing historical data, adding that day’s shots, certifying, and printing records.)

• 10 RN hours = $247.20*
• 10 LPN hours = $174.60*
• 10 certified nurse assistant hours = $105.80*
• 10 administrative/office manager hours = $144.40*

* Cost savings are calculated based on the median hourly rate by job for the state of Florida, 2/15/09 Payscale Research and do not include overhead and benefits costs associated with staff.

Check out the complete Time Savings Study Results.
Watch the Time Savings Study Video.