North Dakota Health-Care Providers Receive Immunization Awards
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Health recently presented its annual immunization rate awards and, for the first time, Providers’ Choice Awards at the Greater Grand Forks Immunization Coalition Conference held in Grand Forks in May, according to Molly Sander, Immunization Program manager.
Each year, the NDDoH conducts quality assurance visits to about 100 North Dakota public and private health-care providers. A component of the visit includes the assessment of immunization rates for six routinely recommended vaccines. The six vaccines on which the awards are based protect against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B, polio and chickenpox.
In 2008, the following health-care providers and local public health units achieved an immunization rate of 85 percent or better for the six recommended vaccines for children younger than 2. (It is important to note that not all providers in the state are assessed each year.)
• Trinity Health Medical Arts Pediatrics South – Minot
• MeritCare Clinic – Jamestown
• Johnson Clinic – Rugby
• Altru Clinic Pediatrics – Grand Forks
• MeritCare Clinic – Mayville
• Mid Dakota Clinic – Bismarck
• MeritCare Broadway Children’s Clinic – Fargo
• Medcenter One Clinic – Jamestown
• Custer Health Mercer County – Stanton
• Lake Region District Health Unit Ramsey County – Devils Lake
• Emmons County Public Health – Linton
• Wells County District Health Unit – Fessenden
• Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Healthcare Facility – Belcourt
• Minne Tohe Health Center – New Town
Also at the Grand Forks conference, the NDDoH, for the first time, presented the North Dakota Providers’ Choice Awards, which recognize individuals, businesses and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions towards improved adult and/or childhood immunization rates in North Dakota. Recipients included the following:
• BlueCross BlueShield of North Dakota – Fargo
• Barbara Andrist, Upper Missouri District Health Unit – Williston
• Dr. Aaron Garman, Coal Country Community Health Center – Beulah
• Debra Solem, Altru Health System – Grand Forks
• Minne Tohe Health Center – New Town
“Public and private health-care providers, the state health department and all out partners continue to work diligently to improve immunization rates in North Dakota,” said State Health Officer Terry Dwelle, M.D. “We congratulate the award recipients and thank them for their dedication and commitment to the health of all North Dakotans.”
For more information, contact Molly Sander, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.2378 or msander@nd.gov.