Abstract
Introduction Immunizing the population is a vital public health priority. This article describes a resident-led continuous quality improvement (CQI) project to improve the immunization rates of children under 3 years old at two urban Family Medicine (FM) residency clinics in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as a break-even cost analysis to the clinics for the intervention.
Methods Immunization records were distributed to provider-medical assistant teamlets daily for each pediatric patient scheduled in clinic to decrease missed opportunities. An outreach intervention by letter, followed by telephone call reminders, was conducted to reach children under the age of 3 who were behind on recommended immunizations for age (total n=457; those behind on immunizations n=101). Immunization rates at 3 months were monitored. A break-even analysis to the clinics for the outreach intervention was performed.
Results Immunizations were improved from a baseline of 75.1% (n=133) and 79.6% (n=223) at the two clinics to 92.1% (n=163) and 89.6% (n=251), respectively, at 3 months following the start of intervention (p<0.01). The average revenue per immunization given was $81.57. Thirty-six immunizations needed to be administered for the financial break-even point.
Conclusion Significant improvement in the rate of patients under 3 years old immunized at two FM residency training clinics was achieved through decreasing missed opportunities for immunization in clinic, and an outreach through letters and follow up phone calls. The intervention showed positive revenue to both clinics.
- Received March 10, 2014.
- Revision received June 6, 2014.
- Accepted June 13, 2014.
