307142
Intervention to increase Hepatitis B birth dose vaccination rates at northern New Jersey birthing hospitals: A collaborative pilot program of the New Jersey Department of Health and Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey
METHODS: Northern NJ birthing hospitals were prioritized using birth certificate data, existing hepatitis B policies, catchment area demographics and accessibility to leadership. Prioritized hospitals received one or more interventions including: leadership meeting, chart audit, nurse in-service and pediatric departmental meetings. Leadership meetings included key management and clinicians. Content included Hepatitis B disease transmission, NJDOH objectives, audit findings, hospital-specific rates and policies.
RESULTS: Twelve hospitals participated in the pilot study and had at least one intervention. Majority of facilities participated in 2 or 3 activities and one hospital received all interventions.
Despite demographics and location variables, recurrent themes emerged: pediatrician vaccination administration in private office, issues with financial reimbursement concerns regarding extra dose, parental hesitancy, cancelled standing orders, standing orders outside nursing scope of practice, nurse relationship with pediatrician, and nursing approach to parents.
CONCLUSIONS: The intervention prioritized the importance of Hepatitis B birth dose, hospital rates and policies. Hospitals are strongly committed to increase birth dose. Monitoring and evaluation of data, policies, and procedures, educating nurses and pediatricians on public health benefits of Hepatitis B vaccination before hospital discharge have increased rates. The NJDOH and Partnership project raised awareness and supported action.
Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programsPublic health administration or related administration
Learning Objectives:
Describe public health agency intervention to positively impact rates of vaccination and improve community health.
Explain importance of educating hospital administration and clinicians about Hepatitis B birth dose prior to discharge.
Identify national and state Hepatitis B goals and objectives.
Keyword(s): Hospitals, Hepatitis B
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I oversaw and helped implement this perinatal hep b hospital leadership pilot project. For the last 15+ years, I have coordinated the Essex Metro Immunization Coalition and have seen NJ's immunization rates rise from three from bottom among states/cities nationwide to better than national averages. I am MPH and have presented other immunization-related posters at APHA.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.