Rhode Island Prevention Connection
Your resource for optimizing the use of your electronic health record (EHR) system to improve the quality and frequency of preventive health care services |
Exception Reporting and Subsequent Telephone Outreach Can Double Vaccination Rates
Kaiser Permanente Georgia proactively contacts at-risk individuals to encourage those who have not received a vaccination or cancer screening to schedule an appointment for one. The program initially used nurses to call individuals in need of a pneumococcal vaccine; now automated systems contact those in need of an influenza vaccine (with pneumococcal vaccines being promoted once the patient comes in for an appointment), mammography, or pap smear. The nurse-led program more than doubled pneumococcal vaccination rates; data from the 2008 flu season suggests that the automated system significantly increased influenza vaccination rates.
See the Description of the Innovative Activity section for updated information about the new automated interactive voice system, the Results section for updated evaluation information, the Resources Used and Skills Needed section for updated information about costs and the Adpotion Considerations for additional guidance on using the automated system (updated May 2009). See the Doctor's Corner article below for detailed guidelines on pneumococcal vacinations.
Influenza and pneumonia cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths each year. Effective vaccines exist, but are underutilized, especially in certain high-risk groups, including the elderly and ethnic and racial minorities. Written reminders to those in need of a vaccination tend to yield low response rates. To read the article in its entirety, click here. If you are interested in adoptig this practice, contact the Prevention Team and we can assist you with the process.
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Doctor's Corner
by Christopher Campanile, MD, PhD
Who Needs a Booster on Their Pneumovax?
A fairly widespread misunderstanding exists in the lay, as well as professional medical community, as to what the indications are for a second dose of a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV). It is well known that all patients over 65 years of age are candidates for a PPSV, as well as patients with certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, CHF and COPD. Asthma was more recently added to this list.Other indications that providers may not be aware of are cigarette smokers 19 years old and older and candidates for, or recipients of cochlear implants. Anyone who has received a PPSV prior to age 65 years needs to receive a second PPSV at age 65 provided there has been at least 5 years since their first PPSV.
There is a more limited group of patients who require a second dose of PPSV five years after their initial dose (even though they are still less than 65 years old). This includes the following conditions:
- Functional (e.g., sickle cell disease) or anatomic asplenia
- Immunocompromising conditions (e.g., HIV infection, leukemia/lymhoma, congenital immunodeficiency, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy) or immunosuppressive therapy
- Organ or bone marrow transplantation
- Chronic renal failure or nephrotic syndrome
These patients will also need one more PPSV once they reach the age of 65, provided it has been at least 5 years since their last PPSV. Hopefully, this clarifies the indications for repeat PPSV's. This information can also be viewed at
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In the News
Meaningful Use of Your EHR
The Health IT Standards Committee released their Meaningful Use Proposed Rule on December 30,2009 for public comments, before producing their final recommendations for 2011 meaningful use requirements to the Office for the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). Also drafted are new and more secure HIPAA regulations, along with increased penalties for non-compliance. The final release can be expected early 2010. The Prevention Team at Quality Partners of Rhode Island will keep you up-to-date as information becomes available.
To learn more, join the eHealth Initiative on Friday, January 8th from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. ET for its free Policy Webinar. The webinar, "Dissecting the Meaningful Use Proposed Rule," will feature leading health IT stakeholders providing initial reactions and thoughts on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Meaningful Use proposed rule, which was released on December 30th. If you are unable to attend, you may want to check the website at a later time, as it may be taped. |
Prevention Update
Now that the bustling of the holidays are behind us, the Prevention Team at Quality Partners of Rhode Island is continuing to meet with the practices in the Power Up for Prevention project to share their Quarter 5 (August through October) data. We are contacting the offices to arrange monthly meetings in which we plan to share best practices, assist you with overcoming any barriers you have encountered, and share your data with you.
The sharing of your data and assistance with workflows to overcome barriers can help move you closer to meaningful use! It's Free! Why not call for an appointment today?
Our hope to to benchmark de-identified data within each practice and eventually across the project with those who wish to participate in that process. Thank you for your continued participation. |
Sharing Best Practices
Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School transformed the way services are delivered at their family practice clinics using an electronic clinical reminder and tracking system designed to support evidence-based quality improvement efforts. Staff are able to produce a customized checklist for each patient visit indicating what services are due, document diagnoses and problems, and record actions taken. These changes have improved preventive and chronic disease management scores, in part by empowering staff to take the initiative in providing necessary services before the physician sees the patient.
Click here to find out how they did it.
Please contact us with your best practices and we will share your successes in our newsletter. | |
This material was prepared by Quality Partners of Rhode Island, the Quality Improvement Organization for Rhode Island, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. | |
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Quote of the Month
Vision is not enough, it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.
~Vaclav Havel
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Less than 50% of healthcare workers in RI and nationally, are immunized against influenza. Educating & vaccinating healthcare workers at the onset of flu season not only maintains a healthy workforce and reduces sick related call-outs, but can strengthen the emphasis on vaccinations when they are speaking to the patients. |
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Events
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 26
Hospital Association of Rhode Island
100 Midway Road
`Happy New Year!`
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Tools
Patient Education
Brochures
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Medicare Quick
References
EHR Tools
eClinicalWorks
EpiChart
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Feedback Requested
Thank you for your commitment to quality.
If you have questions or comments or require technical assistance on the Power Up for Prevention Project, please contact
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