Ruby Valley Clinic Receives the AFIX Certificate of Achievement

The Assessment, Feedback, Incentives and Exchange program (AFIX) is a childhood immunization evaluation process conducted by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The program provides continuous quality improvement evaluations designed specifically for immunizations. The Ruby Valley Clinic was recently notified that it will receive the AFIX Certificate of Achievement – Healthy People 2020 in recognition of achieving an 86% immunization coverage rate.

The objective of the AFIX program is to have every child in Montana fully immunized before their third birthday. Clinics must have at least 11 children in order to qualify for the assessment. Last year was the first year that the Ruby Valley Clinic could participate in the assessment because previously, it did not meet the minimum number of children to qualify. According to the notification by Greg Holzman, State Medical Officer, 86% of the Ruby Valley Clinic’s 14 children (ages 24-36 months) have received 4 DTaP, 3 Polio, 4 Hib, 3 Hepatitus B, 1 Varicella and 4 PCV inoculations.

The Ruby Valley Clinic’s vaccination manager, Rachel Rossiter, RN, will accept the award on behalf of the Clinic at the Immunization Regional Workshop on April 25th at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. “It’s nice to have the state doing the legwork to collect the statistical data for us, then providing goals and rewards,” says Rossiter. The Clinic now has 18 kids in this age category and 89% met the vaccination guidelines as of the latest assessment. Rossiter feels that the vaccination record was probably a contributing factor for Madison County being ranked the healthiest county in the state of Montana.