Improving healthcare worker influenza vaccination rate

1. Improving healthcare worker influenza vaccination rate Lorraine Fearon RN APN, Joan Guest RN, Karen Right LPN, Linda Whitney RN, Mary Hughes LPN, Debbie Janca RN, Lisa Woody MD, Bryan Yanaga MD, Michael Koller MD

2. Opportunity • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended influenza vaccination of all healthcare workers since 1981. • Preventing infection with a flu shot improves both patient and employee safety

3. Goal • CDC promotes healthcare worker influenza vaccination rate of 60% or better (Healthy People 2010) • Loyola and other health systems historically have only had about a 40% flu shot vaccination rate.

4. Most Likely Causes for Vaccination rate < 60% • Problems with national supply and vendor delivery of flu shots to LUHS • Lack of convenient access for vaccination • Lack of knowledge about the risks and benefits of flu shots • Lack of knowledge about the ability of employees to transmit influenza to vulnerable patients at Loyola

5. Solutions Implemented • Provide influenza vaccination free of charge • Improve visibility of flu shot campaign with an established system wide approach at Loyola not only for outpatients but also for inpatients • Utilize yearly employee benefits fare as opportunity to vaccinate • Give Flu shot educational talks to employees • Schedule Flu shot clinics by occupational health • Place Occupational health nurse schedule on-line Send flu shots to clinical departments

7. Analysis – Next Steps • We surpassed our Goal!! • Continue similar approach next year • Consider scheduling employee health fare later in the year to increase the likelihood that our flu shot supply will be on campus for the health fare