A patient safety program at Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA increased the employee influenza vaccination rate from an average of 58 percent to more than 90 percent for three consecutive flu seasons, according to a study in Journal of Healthcare Quality.
HCA implemented the Influenza Patient Safety Program to improve healthcare worker vaccination rates. The program involved human resources policies, patient safety strategies and a vaccination policy that gave employees the choice of free seasonal influenza vaccination or wearing a mask, according to the study. The policy had 100 percent compliance, which increased the vaccination rate more than 55 percent.
Study authors, including lead author Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president of the Clinical and Physician Services Group and CMO of HCA, shared three essential components of the employee vaccination program:
• Steadfast leadership support
• Continuous education and communication efforts
• Consistent data collection and feedback
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HCA implemented the Influenza Patient Safety Program to improve healthcare worker vaccination rates. The program involved human resources policies, patient safety strategies and a vaccination policy that gave employees the choice of free seasonal influenza vaccination or wearing a mask, according to the study. The policy had 100 percent compliance, which increased the vaccination rate more than 55 percent.
Study authors, including lead author Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president of the Clinical and Physician Services Group and CMO of HCA, shared three essential components of the employee vaccination program:
• Steadfast leadership support
• Continuous education and communication efforts
• Consistent data collection and feedback
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