The North Carolina Immunization Program (NCIP) has announced a temporary pause on all North Carolina Immunization Registry (NCIR) data exchange onboarding activities as it transitions to a new NCIR product. Practices, health systems, and vendors planning new NCIR data exchange connections should be aware of this change and prepare for potential delays in onboarding timelines.

According to information shared by NCIP, all data exchange onboarding activities have been paused effective immediately while the transition is underway. The goal of the transition is to support a smooth implementation of the new NCIR platform and ensure providers can successfully connect to the updated system once onboarding resumes.

What This Means for Practices

Practices that are already exchanging data with NCIR are not the focus of this announcement. Instead, the pause affects organizations and vendors that are planning to begin the onboarding process for new NCIR data exchange connections. During the pause, new onboarding activities will not move forward until NCIP resumes normal operations.

Organizations that anticipate needing a future NCIR data exchange connection may still take steps now to position themselves for onboarding once activities resume. NCIP has established a process for interested organizations to indicate their intent to onboard in the future.

Preparing for Future Onboarding

NCIP has stated that organizations interested in beginning the onboarding process when operations resume should complete the NCIR Data Exchange Onboarding Request Form. Requests will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis once onboarding activities restart.

Practices that are considering immunization registry integration projects may want to discuss timelines with their EHR vendors and internal technology teams to ensure readiness when onboarding opportunities become available again. While onboarding is paused, organizations can continue evaluating workflow needs, data exchange requirements, and implementation plans.

Where to Get Updates

NCIP encourages providers to stay connected to ongoing communications about the NCIR transition. Providers who are not currently receiving NCIR updates can subscribe to NCIR communications and monitor the New NCIR webpage for future announcements, updates, and guidance.

Questions regarding the onboarding pause can be directed to the NCIP Data Exchange Help Desk at ncirdataexchange@dhhs.nc.gov.

How Northwest AHEC Practice Support Can Help

Technology and data exchange initiatives often affect clinical workflows, quality reporting, population health efforts, and operational planning. Your Northwest AHEC Practice Support Team can help practices think through the operational implications of health information technology changes and identify resources that support practice transformation efforts.

If your organization has questions about preparing for future immunization registry connectivity efforts or other practice transformation initiatives, contact your Northwest AHEC Practice Support coach for assistance.

Source: North Carolina Immunization Program (NCIP) Data Exchange Onboarding Pause announcement shared through NC AHEC Practice Support communications.