The workflow for Vaccine Forecast Decision Support Service (VF-DSS) is depicted here:
The XML input interface to the Vaccine Forecast Decision Support Service includes minimal patient demographic information (no name required), exemptions, conditions, configuration information, and vaccine history. Output includes vaccine history validated against rules, including dose numbers, and forecasted vaccines.
Rules are based upon CDC recommendations with many special cases accounted for. Sample (English language) rules can been viewed on the HSSP Decision Support Service web site:
- MMR Validation Sample Rules
- Varicella Sample Rules
- HepB with Pedarix-Comvax Sample Rules
Rules are further encoded into our English-like rules language consisting of sets of expressions and statements. A simple rules maintenance tool generates an XML file containing the rules. This is loaded into the service at startup, and can be reloaded on command without bringing the service down. This approach provides for easy configuration and upgrades to rules, and optimizes runtime performance.
Our web-based testing tool further eases maintenance by providing easy ways to run regression tests and compare actual results to expected results. The testing tool can be run from a different host than the actual service, providing a way to test the connection as well as the algorithm results.