Marlene M. Lugg, DrPH, Panorama CIty Medical Center, Southern California Kaiser Permanente, 13652 Cantara Street, South 1 Bldg, Panorama City, CA 91402, (818) 375-3078, marlene.m.lugg@kp.org

Many changes have occurred in the immunization schedule(s) over the past decades. The inevitable confusion arising out of schedule changes can be minimized by careful pre-panning and provider education. Staff turnover also necessitates training and mentoring.

At Southern California Kaiser Permanente (which serves over 3 million members) in order to strive for excellence in immunization services, new staff are trained in several Kaiser Permanente legacy systems, including KITS (the immunization tracking system) which now contains 25 million entries. KITS/Immunization Coordinators monitor compliance and accuracy monthly and quarterly, using a random sample of records from patients seen. If errors are found, the provider/staff are coached one-on-one, and group in-services are offered where necessary.

Nurses also attend a yearly all-day update session covering several aspects of nursing, including immunization practices and KITS. Physicians have immunization education as part of their regular education sessions and in-services as needed.

Over the past 8 years, the number of omissions and errors in recording immunizations in KITS has decreased dramatically. At some centers, the percent of errors dropped from 45% to less than 4%, with routine monitoring and education, described in this presentation.

Learning Objectives:

• Persons attending will learn effective methods of initial and continuing education and mentoring of physicians and nursing staff in order to promote excellence in immunization services.

Keywords: Education, Immunizations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment