Cancer or Immunization Registry
The Georgia State Department of Health has clearly shown its consideration for the overall public health of its citizens. The state recognizes that there cancer is the second leading killer in the state whereby the year 2015 saw 16,496 deaths among Georgians. Additionally, there are approximately 45,000 Georgians who are diagnosed with invasive cancer each year. Despite the available information, the Georgia State Department of Health does not have a cancer registry. This could be the reason for the lack of up to date numbers on deaths and diagnosis. The state department does provide numerous programs to tackle lung and colorectal cancers that are the two leading killers in the state.
The Georgia State Department of Health identifies its mission to undertake collaborative efforts with members of the public and private sectors as a measure of ensuring positive outcomes. The primary aim is to ensure that the department can help reduce incidences of vaccine-preventable diseases while increasing the number of immunized Georgians. In this approach, the department notes that a critical registry is required. The Georgia Immunization Registry (GRITS) is used to collect and maintain accurate, complete, and current records of immunization (Georgia State Department of Health, 2019) . The approach will also help in ensuring effective and cost-efficient measures in disease prevention. The 1996 Georgia Immunization Registry Law has been effective in providing guidance in the use of GRITS while also being expanded by the House Bill 1526.
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Source of Data
When taking into consideration the various health issues that the state department of health would like to address, it is particularly important to identify its sources of data. As mentioned earlier, the state department does not have an appropriate cancer registry. However, through its significant plans, it usually carries out significant research to identify the most appropriate ways to deal with the disease. The formation of the Georgia Cancer Plan 2014-2019 is an appropriate source that provides accurate data for the number of deaths and expected rate of diagnosis in the state. A registry would be more effective if data is collected on a regular basis and makes adjusting the programs easier.
On the other hand, the Georgia State Department of Health does have an effective, accurate, complete, and current data available on its immunization registry. The state department under the Georgia Immunization Registry law requires that reporting be done by “any person who administers a vaccine or vaccines licensed for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration to a person” (Georgia State Department of Health, 2018a) .The approach offers health providers various measures of reporting the immunization practices and the Georgians immunized. In most cases, the immunization providers in Georgia have access to immunization records which helps in the achievement of the state goals.
Diseases on the Notifiable/ reportable list
The Georgia State Department of Health has established a notifiable or reportable list for various diseases that medical providers are expected to adhere to. The practice of disease reporting enables the follow-up on various patients and identifying of outbreaks in the state. The health providers are able to participate in this practice by ensuring a timely approach to dealing with the public health issue. The nature of the disease usually determines when it is most appropriate to report it to the state department (Georgia State Department of Health, 2018b). There are those that should be reported immediately whole others up to 6months period is required. For instance, benign brain and central nervous system tumors along with cancer should be reported within 6 months.
There are multiple diseases that can be immunized and the moment they are detected by the medical practitioners should be reported almost immediately. Diptheria, smallpox, poliomyelitis, pertusis, novel influenza A virus infections, meningococcal disease (invasive), and measles (rubeola) are among diseases that should be reported immediately once diagnosed in a patient (Georgia State Department of Health, 2018b). There are others that should be monitored and reported within seven days of recognizing them including rubella, AIDS, and acute flaccid myelitis (Georgia State Department of Health, 2018b). There are many more conditions and disease that are included in the notifiable list which all are expected due to their severity and difficulty in controlling them.
References
Georgia State Department of Health (2018a) Georgia Immunization Registry (GRITS) . Online, Retrieved from https://dph.georgia.gov/georgia-immunization-registry-grits
Georgia State Department of Health (2018b) Notifiable Disease/ Condition Reporting . Online, Retrieved from https://dph.georgia.gov/sites/dph.georgia.gov/files/Georgia.DPH.Notifiable.Disease.Poster.FINAL.PRESS.JUL.30.18.pdf
Georgia State Department of Health (2019) Immunization Section . Online, Retrieved from https://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section
