Enhancing vaccine administration
in hospital
Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 154: 1220
Source: Landis S, Scarbrough ML: Using a vaccine manager to enhance in-hospital vaccine administration. J Fam Pract 1995; 41: 364-369
Two approaches to updating vaccinations for adult patients in hospital were assessed in a 500-bed regional hospital in Asheville, NC. After a 2-month baseline study, a 3-month intervention period was initiated in which 1252 patients were assigned either to an enhanced-care program, in which needs assessment, patient education and vaccine administration were integrated into the daily activities of nurses and physicians, or to a program in which these services were provided by a nurse practitioner acting as a "vaccine manager." Only 2.6% of the patients who needed a vaccine during the baseline period received it. This rate was increased to only 3.7% in the enhanced-care program and to 34.3% in the vaccine-manager program. Hospital staff generally found the vaccine-manager program acceptable, whereas nurses found the additional paperwork and responsibility of the enhanced-care program unacceptable.
| CMAJ April 15, 1996 (vol 154, no 8) |