OBJECTIVES: CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) strongly recommends the use of SOPs in nursing homes, where influenza and pneumococcal immunization rates are far below Healthy People 2010 goals of 90%. In June 2000, the Immunization Standing Orders Program (SOP) Project, a collaboration of HCFA, CDC, and HCFA's contractors, the Peer Review Organizations (PROs), was launched. At baseline, project objectives include assessment of nursing facilities' current immunization policies, and program types, their perceived barriers to SOPs, their need for training resources, and their capacity to track immunization rates for all their residents. METHODS: Self-administered, brief questionnaires were mailed to every Medicare certified nursing facility in seven of nine PRO intervention states and five PRO control states. The response rate was 80.2%. RESULTS: Preliminary results from 7 intervention states indicate that a majority of facilities have organized programs, but less than 5% of all facilities have SOPs. Most organized programs are based on: (1) pre-printed admission orders, or (2) educational/reminder programs to promote the vaccines. The most significant barriers to SOPs include liability concerns for facilities and need for physician education. Only half of facilities track their immunization rates for all residents. An in-depth analysis of these data linked to OSCAR, a HCFA administrative database of nursing home characteristics will be presented. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunities to improve immunization programs in nursing homes include increasing the portion of organized programs which use standing orders and improving the capacity of programs to track immunization for all residents. See www.nationalpneumonia.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Describe evidence-based interventions for improving influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage for nursing home residents. 2. Develop immunization standing orders programs in nursing homes. 3. Evaluate immunization standing orders programs in nursing homes.
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Immunizations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Peer Review Organizations
Skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes
HCFA
CDC
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.