Immunization Records – Consumer Access with Docket.care with Michael Perretta, Founder at Docket.care was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the latest audio-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors. Sonix is the best audio automated transcription service in 2020. Our automated transcription algorithms works with many of the popular audio file formats.
Saul Marquez:
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Saul Marquez:
Welcome back to the Outcomes Rocket. Saul Marquez is here, and today I have the privilege of hosting Michael Peretta. He’s the founder of Docket.care. First Place Winner of ONC’s Move Health Data Forward Challenge. Docket partners with HHS, CTO, CMS, and other public health agencies to expand consumer access to personal and family immunization records. Currently, Docket is live in Utah with upcoming rollouts anticipated in California and Minnesota. Previously, Michael volunteered as a judge for CMS’s 1.65 million Artificial Intelligence Health Outcomes Challenge and has served on the US Court Data for Interoperability Task Force. Michael is a Mount Sinai Innovation Fellow and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Boston College. So we’re going to be diving into immunization and the challenges there and the opportunities that are on the other side of unlocking solutions to the challenges. So privileged to have you here, Michael. Thanks for joining us.
Michael Peretta:
Thank you so much Saul for having me on the show.
Saul Marquez:
Absolutely. So before we dive into Docket and the awesome stuff that you guys are doing with what you’ve built there, tell me a little bit about you and what inspires your work in health care.
Michael Peretta:
Yeah, absolutely. I’m just a young digital health entrepreneur. I think what really inspires me to work in this space is that there’s just so much potential in the US health care industry. So even if we focus on just improving one small aspect of health care delivery, my team and I can make such a huge difference. And I think that’s really meaningful to me.
Saul Marquez:
It is so meaningful and you guys are hyper-focused. You’re working on immunization records. So tell us a little bit about Docket and how you guys are offering value to the health care ecosystem.
Michael Peretta:
Absolutely. So very simply put, Docket it is making it easier for consumers to access, manage, and share their personal and family immunization records. So in the United States, immunization records are aggregated in state databases, which are typically closed off directly to consumers. So what’s special about our app is that it simplifies the process of authenticating users’ identities in order to access the records to and from an administrative standpoint. We’re eliminating the burden of faxing requests to health departments. So you might think about trying to re-enroll your child in school every year or every few years. You need to produce proof of immunization. That typically involves calling up your PD, remembering which provider gave my son or daughter their shot. They would have then fax or request from the health department. And that creates a huge administrative backlog every back to school season. And then from a public health perspective, we’re encouraging better immunization adherence. So there’s evidence to show from the and published by the NIH that access to a digital copy for up-to-date immunization records improve immunization adherence by 30 percent and then from the consumer. From a parent’s perspective, we’re making it so much easier to re-enroll return back to school season or summer camps or travel or starting in starting college for any job, you know.
Saul Marquez:
And the thing that I love about come on, you guys are listening to this. And I know that you’ve had a hard time with your records. I mean, it’s everywhere, right? And I was talking to Michael before our podcast, and I was confessing to him that, I mean, where is my stuff? And even today, I mean, I have some stuff saved in a file on my desktop, other stuff saved on a hard drive, and some stuff that’s probably in a file. I mean, that’s just it’s a problem that I know is true across the board. And so there’s the digitization of it and then there’s the application to help optimize workflows, whether it be signing up for school or whatever, a physician, exam, compliance, all these things are important. Talk to us about what makes you guys different and better than what’s currently available.
Michael Peretta:
Yeah, absolutely. So I love to touch a little bit about patient portals in the second. But before I do, one of the things that make us unique in this niche space is the direct access to immunization registries. Is that our app is agnostic and we’re actually scaling our services to even more states through a first of its kind central hub that will tether together multiple state immunization registries. Ultimately too, it who will be the first consumer very shortly when we onboard our second and third states that will actually aggregate immunization forecasting from different states. So you can get one clear record and immunization schedule by aggregating those different immunization records. If you move from, say, California to Utah, for example. In terms of user experience, consumers simply download the app, just log in with Google and search their records using multi-factor authentication. So that’s just so much better and easier than having to onboard into a tethered patient portal that might be affiliated with your health care system and then hoping that your health care provider has the most current immunization records on file for you. So this is cutting out the middleman, so to speak, and it is easier to onboard so many more people. And then given our unique product design and the way we authenticate user identity, with a very high patient moderate, especially with our target populations. So hopefully more exciting news to come.
Saul Marquez:
Yeah. And the question that comes to mind is, so you’re saying that immunization is actually already out there like the data is collected by government agencies. By signing on to your app am I able to see all my stuff?
Michael Peretta:
Yeah. So to answer your first question, immunization records are, in my mind, treated differently than other types of health data in that they are aggregated at the state level. So many states require by law that health care providers report certain types of immunization to the state. The state immunization registries are called immunizations information systems, or IRS, and they’re told in most cases they’re totally off limits directly to consumers. That’s not necessarily by law, but if that’s the way the icy landscape is structured. Yeah.
Saul Marquez:
So it’s something that’s aggregated by the state. And then the second question is, so let’s just say somebody listening to this right now says, interesting, you know, I actually don’t know where my tetanus shot record is. They sign in. Are they going to find it?
Michael Peretta:
Yeah. So let’s take the state of Utah, for example. So we reached out to.
Saul Marquez:
Because that’s where you’re at, right? Like that’s where you’re at now. And then you’ll slowly kind of expand.
Michael Peretta:
Correct.
Saul Marquez:
OK, gotcha.
Michael Peretta:
This is live in Utah. It will be visible on Utah.gov late in August. There are a few things. There are a few hospitals in the southern regions of Utah that are actually distributing it to parents leaving the LNP with their Newgate. So it’s just an easier way to keep track of the immunizations of their upcoming shots? But in the state of Utah, for example, you would download the app, sign with your Google account, or create an account with your email. And once you authenticate using multifactor authentication, you’ll see all of your different immunization records grouped by status. So you can see all the shots that are overdue where you need to take immediate action. You might see some shots that are due right now for, for example, if you have a kid with the MMR booster that’s due between September and November, you’ll see that range there and then you’ll see everything that you’ve received, plus information about where you receive the shots if you have information available and when you those were administered. For the first time ever in the state of Utah and then in other states we are working at, you can also get a PDF copy of your official proof of immunizations directly in your app, in app. So, yeah, it’s in Utah. We’re planning on using it for proof of COVID-19 vaccinations in the near future, hopefully. But for parents to re-enroll their kids, they simply text or email that PDA to their kids’ school.
Saul Marquez:
Wow, that’s really neat. Is this type of record and consumer access available anywhere in the world?
Michael Peretta:
Yeah. So there are a few states that do support consumer access already through their own portal. So I know, for example, New Mexico has some sort of web portal that that consumer can log into to see the records. Different states do have different statutes and requirements that dictate how they can implement an application to support consumer access. So that would be different security thresholds for different types of proxy access requirements and things like that.
Saul Marquez:
Interesting, interesting. Well, that’s very neat. And you mentioned covid and understanding who has that immunization. I think that’s a really important thing to have handy. And so what would you say is what you guys improve through this? What outcomes are you improving? What business models are you making better?
Michael Peretta:
Yeah, that’s a great question. We always like to create value. That’s definitely the most important mission driver for us. So we stock it for parents. Parents no longer have to keep a scorecard of their children’s immunizations. That’s something that we found when we did user testing that a lot of parents were frustrated with losing their children’s immunization reports and things like that. So the app itself will alert users to upcoming or overdue shots. For the first time, Docket gives users immediate mobile access to their official state-issued immunization certificate users. Those forms are very difficult to come by and require a lot of faxing between providers and then parents would simply text or email that PDF that immunization certificate to their kids’ schools. So we’re hoping that this will be something that will make that’ll improve immunization here and so will make the burden a lot easier for parents and health departments and providers. And then ultimately down the road, we’re hoping to make it even easier for the apps to schedule visits or with your doctor to get those shots when they become due.
Saul Marquez:
That is so neat. So you have hospitals that allow vendors to go and say to cover cases, orthopedics, cardiac, and these vendors are coming into the hospital, they have to meet certain immunization requirements. And so the way that those are managed, you guys, I imagine, can make it so much more efficient for them.
Michael Peretta:
Yeah. Oh, that’s a great point.
Saul Marquez:
So one of the things that we’re looking into with some health insurance providers is that we would help their members be more compliant with their immunization schedule. So that’s immunization adherence is definitely something that health care insurance carriers get graded on. And I think that’s an area where we can make a big difference.
Saul Marquez:
That’s awesome, man. It’s making it easier. Just those things that involve the vaccine, like you mentioned, if there’s an easier way to administer it and track it and keep on top of it, why not? You know, and so as you guys have built the platform and have gotten your first state on board, what would you say is one of the biggest setbacks you’ve experienced and maybe key learning that came out of that.
Michael Peretta:
For sure. So there are a ton of different people that have to be involved to make this thing a reality. That’s different partners, the federal government, the state government, we’ve been working very closely with the Network for Public Health Law to make sure that we do everything that we do is correct and in line with state statutes. Thankfully, the biggest setback that we’ve had, even after months of legal review, was actually just getting the final sign off from information security in the state of Utah. But ultimately, everything cleared and we were able to get everyone on board and we were able to press on. But as we continue to expand into more states, we’ve collected the checklist, so to speak, of everything that made us successful in Utah and wants to make sure that we clear everything upfront before we break ground, so to speak, in the upcoming states where we have planned rollout. That would be, I think, the biggest lesson learned and where we can we can make this our implementation faster going forward. And so I think that would have to be sure that’s a good lesson.
Saul Marquez:
And as you guys think about scaling to the rest of the country, what would you say from the project and what you guys are doing you’re most excited about?
Michael Peretta:
So what I’m most excited about is hearing feedback from our end users. We continuously reach out to them and gauge how is this? What are your thoughts about our product? Was. Was it helpful? What would you change differently? And we’ve heard a lot from users that, wow, I didn’t realize that I had I was due for some shingles shots. I didn’t even know that existed or I lost track of all my kids’ HPV vaccine. And this is really helpful. So I’m hearing more positive feedback on how we can actually make a difference to me, very rewarding. But it’s just been completely wild watching Docket grow. I’m just excited to see more user adoption after working so hard to prove ourselves. This is where you see this exponential organic growth start to take off. And as Docket expands, we’ll introduce more functionality to engage, engage users like we are plans of the game of by the app, so to speak, just for immunizations and streamline appointment booking. Like I mentioned, for booster shots. Our hope is to collaborate with the states to also beef up immunization reporting, too. So there’s something there are things we can do on the other side to make it easier to collect data for the states and then make that data available directly to consumers.
Saul Marquez:
I think that’s great and it’s definitely exciting. So I’m right there with you. I wish I lived in Utah right now. All right. What’s your app was in Illinois.
Michael Peretta:
So coming from. I’m based in New York City. I don’t. And I’m in my thirties and all my friends are in their 30s, none of us have kids that are just starting up kids and we’re not used to having a big family. Utah is a great state to roll this kind of thing out, too, because you could see the families that sign up. They had all their kids to it. And I think it’s a really great proving ground for us. It’s been so wonderful working with the state of Utah and all the stakeholders there and the school nurse associations and the school districts. And I think we’re really blessed to have found great partners to really kick off this adventure. And it’ll be exciting to take that momentum elsewhere.
Saul Marquez:
Yeah, that’s for sure. So if you’re in Utah and you’re listening to this Docket.care, but if you’re not and you’re curious, check them out anyway. They’ll probably eventually be in your state, too. So, Michael, this has been such an interesting interview and I appreciate the insights that you’ve shared with us. Why don’t you go ahead and leave us with a closing thought and where the listeners could get in touch with you, maybe even at the state level, right. if there’s some interest there and they’re listening, what’s the best way for them to engage?
Michael Peretta:
For sure. So Docket is just our way to help advance public health outcomes. But we’re really, truly inspired by so many other digital health entrepreneurs who also don’t shy away from tough problems. So this podcast, I think, for example, really brings to light all the amazing stuff that’s going on in digital health. And if you’re interested in our work, please drop us a line at infos@hellodocket.com. Our URL for our website is docket.care so you can email us. And you can find our other contact info and our social media on our Web site at docket.care.
Saul Marquez:
Love it. Listen, just an incredible opportunity to get rid of paperwork and faxing and have access to your immunization. How about that? So, Michael, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the work that you’re doing. And thank you for spending time with us today.
Michael Peretta:
Thank you so much, Saul. It’s been a pleasure.
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