A systematic effort to improve flu vaccination rates for healthcare workers has increased flu vaccinations rates from 59 percent to 77 percent at the University Health System in San Antonio, according to a news release from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
UHS raised its healthcare worker vaccination rate through a quality improvement program featuring a distinct set of interventions. Under the improvement program, a vaccination kit was provided to each hospital unit so workers could take it without leaving their work area. Multiple educational conferences on vaccination were held, and a flu information page and blog were added to the health system's website. Hospital newsletters featured articles about immunization, including photographs of hospital leaders being vaccinated. The vaccination campaign was also promoted on telephone hold messages and computer screen savers.
To monitor progress, vaccination rates by unit were sent to unit directors weekly and were available to all employees on the website. A dashboard of vaccination rates of each program was also promoted on the staff intranet. The national average for healthcare worker vaccination tends to hover below 50 percent.
Read the news release about healthcare work vaccination rates at UHS.
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UHS raised its healthcare worker vaccination rate through a quality improvement program featuring a distinct set of interventions. Under the improvement program, a vaccination kit was provided to each hospital unit so workers could take it without leaving their work area. Multiple educational conferences on vaccination were held, and a flu information page and blog were added to the health system's website. Hospital newsletters featured articles about immunization, including photographs of hospital leaders being vaccinated. The vaccination campaign was also promoted on telephone hold messages and computer screen savers.
To monitor progress, vaccination rates by unit were sent to unit directors weekly and were available to all employees on the website. A dashboard of vaccination rates of each program was also promoted on the staff intranet. The national average for healthcare worker vaccination tends to hover below 50 percent.
Read the news release about healthcare work vaccination rates at UHS.
Related Articles on Vaccinations:
CMS Rule Would Require Hospitals to Offer Annual Influenza Vaccination
Influenza, Hep B Vaccination Among Healthcare Personnel Remains Low
Employee Sues South Carolina Hospital Over Mandatory Flu Shot