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Raising Adult Immunization Rates 

12-05-2019 23:50

Lehigh Valley Physician Group Family Medicine at Cetronia Road was one of 25 practices across the nation selected to participate in the AAFP Adult Immunization Office Champions Project. Our office tracked the number of our patients receiving influenza, pneumonia, and zoster vaccines from baseline in August 2016 and over the next 2 years. The office started the project with above average rates of adult vaccines. A physician and clinical coordinator worked at engaging all of the medical team in the project. Through education of our providers, staff and patients, and with use of previsit planning, standing orders, improved documentation and data collection and use of patient portal/letters, we were able to increase our rates significantly on all four of the vaccines in the first year. Despite continued reinforcement of the same processes in the second year, the rates other than influenza declined slightly. This was a tumultuous year for both the practice and the zoster vaccine. However, the vaccine rates still remained the same (zoster) or above the baseline rates by August 2018. Having an office immunization champion and following a protocol can raise immunization rates even in the face of significant change.

Author(s):Madalyn Schaefgen, MD, FAAFP
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Uploaded - 12-05-2019
Lehigh Valley Physician Group Family Medicine at Cetronia Road was one of 25 practices across the nation selected to participate in the AAFP Adult Immunization Office Champions Project. Our office tracked the number of our patients receiving influenza, pneumonia, and zoster vaccines from baseline in August 2016 and over the next 2 years. The office started the project with above average rates of adult vaccines. A physician and clinical coordinator worked at engaging all of the medical team in the project. Through education of our providers, staff and patients, and with use of previsit planning, standing orders, improved documentation and data collection and use of patient portal/letters, we were able to increase our rates significantly on all four of the vaccines in the first year. Despite continued reinforcement of the same processes in the second year, the rates other than influenza declined slightly. This was a tumultuous year for both the practice and the zoster vaccine. However, the vaccine rates still remained the same (zoster) or above the baseline rates by August 2018. Having an office immunization champion and following a protocol can raise immunization rates even in the face of significant change.