Flu shots for patients 65+

Influenza for Patients Age 65 and Over
Percent of patient/client population over age 65 that received influenza immunizations.

Direction of improvement: increase

Flushots

Summary/Analysis

There are not enough FHT?s measuring this indicator at this time.

Many FHTs commented that the flu vaccine uptake is greatly impacted by media questioning its effectiveness. The collection of this data is also difficult because the flu vaccine is so widely available, people can get it outside their FHT and there is no way of accessing this data.

Effectiveness:

St. Josephs Urban: targeting specific patient groups to educate and encourage them to get flu shot

Taddle Creek: targeted their EMR to perform data clean up to identify patients receiving shot elsewhere and to contact those still unvaccinated by Jan/Feb to improve their measure. Also implemented extra communication materials to patients.

Recommendations:

Many FHTs reported having trouble engaging patients because of news spreading about vaccine?s effectiveness, because of this many FHTs were not successful in improving this measure. Higher performing FHTs put out a lot of patient education to curb the media influence as well as identifying patients through EMR and contacting them or updating data to reflect flu shots given outside the FHT.

DETAILS

Bancroft????? 51.64 ?> 58.00

  • Phone patients and document influenza vaccine status in EMR ->?search all patients 65 and over in EMR and call, offer community flu clinics

Alliston: CB ? 70.00

  • Difficult to track those going elsewhere for vaccine ? aim to track these patients in the future as we were unsuccessful in doing so this year

Southlake FHT:? —-

  • n/a ->?stated not currently working on this indicator

Health For All FHT: ?42.00 ? 54.00

  • lower target to account for snowbirds, getting vaccination elsewhere (pharmacy, this data not reported)
  • Task in determining is low rate due to low response to FHT about vaccinations or because ppl are getting it elsewhere
  • Noted that Ministry is supporting flu vaccines availability elsewhere (not reported on) which makes this indicator unreliable
    Positive learning experience:
    Key Learning: increase availability of vaccines in community locations and ease of access impacts on patients choice to access FHT for vaccinations
    Impact of Change Ideas: positive; fostered greater integration among providers and staff; provided new awareness/knowledge of issues in communicating with patients; enhanced team collaboration and communication will support continued improvement
    Advice: a designated team to address influenza rates is a positive effort

Aurora Newmarket FHT: 42.00 ? 31.00

  • comment on media and concern around safety of flu vaccine, ppl questioning if you really need to get it
  • Create awareness for tracking refusal rates ? discuss with staff refusal tracking and teach where necessary
  • Increase of awareness of flu vaccine ? signage, promo material

Barriers: news regarding effectiveness of flu vaccine, prevented patients from wanting to get the shot; ?free? parking taken away = barrier to access; flu shot also widely available at pharmacies, no way of tracking those who receive it there

 

Mount Sinai Academic FHT: —

  • Track patients access to flu shots ? set up self-reporting system in waiting room to encourage patients to report when and where they received flu shots; advertise this tool on website and in newsletter

PC xyz (??): —

  • Offer reward when come to get flu shot ? healthy, apple, banana etc.

St. Joseph?s Urban FHT: 64.60 ? 62.70

  • Continue to raise awareness of flu shot
    ->?target specific population through group activities (i.e. chronic disease mgmt. groups)
    ->?email reminders, phone calls

Taddle Creek: 51.00 ? 55.00

  • Communications strategies to increase patients receiving flu shots
    • Sending monthly reminders/communications to clinical team informing them of flu shot program and reporting on progress to increase rate
    • Putting posters in waiting room
    • Creating laminated ?influenza vaccine info sheet? addressing FAQs for patients to read in waiting room
  • Track patients without flu shots in Jan and Feb
    • Review charts of these patients for note of receiving it elsewhere and updated with Q code ? if not had shot encourage them to come in