LHCR / Home Health Newsletters

July / August 2006 - Adult Immunizations

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has initiated a comprehensive effort across all care settings to improve the influenza and pneumococcal immunization rates of Medicare beneficiaries.  Because many older adults do not seek routine medical care, your role as a home care provider can play in important part in educating your patients on the importance of these life-saving vaccinations as well as assisting them in becoming immunized against flu & pneumonia.

All home health agencies are encouraged to strive for a 90% immunization rate among their eligible patients for both influenza and pneumonia and now is the perfect time to begin planning and implementing your agency’s immunization strategy for the upcoming influenza season.  Listed below are several suggestions to guide you through the planning process.

ü      Develop a process to assess patient’s influenza and pneumococcal status.  Modify your OASIS tool to integrate immunization assessment.

ü      Develop an immunization process.  Develop a policy for administering vaccinations OR align your agency with an immunization provider (physician office, Council on Aging, etc.).

ü      Develop an awareness & immunization plan for staff.  In order to attain success, it is important that your staff is educated on the importance of these immunizations as well as your agency’s immunization policy.  Encourage your staff to be immunized.

ü      Develop an awareness plan for physicians, patients & caregivers.  Notify physicians and other health care providers of your intent to ensure immunization of all patients and request their support.  Educate patients & caregivers on the importance of immunizations and encourage them to be immunized.

ü      Develop an immunization tracking mechanism.  Develop & maintain an immunization log that will allow you to share important health information with other providers.  This will also allow you to follow-up with your patients to ensure everyone was offered their immunizations and received them, if applicable.

Many agencies throughout Louisiana recently received a copy of the Home Health Immunization Toolkit on CD which contains specific information and education for home health providers, staff, patients and families on the benefits of immunizations.  The toolkit also contains many comprehensive guidelines and tools in addition to those mentioned above as well as numerous websites where additional information and resources can be found.  If your agency would like to receive a copy of the Immunization Toolkit, please contact Tricia Canella at 225-248-7064 or via e-mail at tcanella@lhcr.org.

Jane Artz Bergeron RN, BSHA
LHCR Home Health Team Leader