Improving Pneumococcal Immunization Rates in Oklahoma

Overall Goal:  The project goal is to increase adult pneumococcal immunizations by at least 5% in the target population by implementing practice protocols to identify, address and overcome physician and patient barriers contributing to low immunization rates.

 

Target Population:  The target population is 10 Primary Care practices in rural Western Oklahoma with a lower percentage of pneumococcal immunization (compared to the national average) and high pneumonia-related death rates. 

 

Assessment:  We will assess outcomes through analysis of pre-post interventional pneumococcal immunization rates.

 

Methods:  Practice Facilitators will make initial onsite visits to review the project with recruited practices, perform an initial workflow analysis and pull baseline data from EHRs via a combination of custom reports and CQM – NQF 0043 in order to have pneumococcal immunization data for patients aged 19 and over. Initial workflow assessments will determine as-is states and identify opportunities for improvement. We will organize and host three IHI-Breakthrough Series Collaboratives where recruited practices will learn about best practices for pneumococcal immunization (based upon the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians model) and receive the project toolkit. Attendees will be instructed on Quality Improvement (QI) principles, including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, and will create a QI plan. Action periods will occur between the collaborative events, during which time practice-based coaches (facilitators) will reinforce collaborative learning and ensure practices are following their QI plans. Practice facilitators will also pull periodic pneumococcal immunization data throughout the project to determine if interventions are showing improvement.