GRASS-ROOTS QI
May 1, 1999 2 minutes read
GRASS-ROOTS QI
At the 13 Advocate Health Centers in the Chicago area, the 1999 "No Flu" initiative is under way. Cindy Welsh, MBA, RN, director of quality improvement and credentialing; and Kathleen Killoran, RN, MS, disease management specialist, work with a steering committee, contacts at Advocate’s clinics, and long-term care (LTC) facilities as well as home care staffs.
IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITYTo meet regulatory requirements and Department of Health & Human Services’ Healthy 2000 goals: Immunize against influenza 60% of Medicare clients, 80% of LTC residents, and 67% of staff.
SOLUTIONSAim to improve on 1998 successes. What works: For employees — reminders in newsletter, posters, paycheck inserts, flu-shot days, on-the-spot shots at work stations, raffles of 100 extra vacation days and weekend wellness getaway, and "No Flu" lapel buttons. For clinic patients — standing orders to facilitate immunization for all adults and pediatric patients, reminders by providers, "November’s not too late" postcards and newspaper announcements, walk-in and bring-your-neighbor days, "Just ask, no wait" banners. LTC patients — physicians immunize during visits. Home care — nurses immunize during visits.
The 1999 solutions involve Advocate’s managers and marketing specialists in flu shot kickoff and publicity events; target urban centers to raise low immunization rates; offer more walk-in opportunities at clinics; through Advocate’s advice line, collect data on patients who obtain shots from other community sources.
RESULTSLast year’s 67% staff immunization rate tops Advocate’s benchmark of 50%; 11 centers did better in 1998 than in 1997.
KEYS TO SUCCESS1. Killoran obtains clinician and administrator buy-in and does on-site inservices detailing the shot’s benefits and limitations.
2. Advocate conducts an all-out push between Oct. 1 and Thanksgiving Day. Welsh notes, "If you don’t catch people by Thanksgiving, they get too busy to come in."
CONTACTCindy Welsh. Telephone: (312) 808-7300. E-mail: [email protected].
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content