Case Studies and Best Practices

In an urban family medicine practice, the office manager and lead physician were champions who inspired the staff to take responsibility for assessing vaccination status and vaccinating patients, using standing order protocols (SOPs). Walk-in vaccination and nursing appointments for influenza vaccination made access convenient. Prompts in the electronic medical record and checking immunization status as part of vital signs were used to make staff aware of needed immunizations, which triggered SOPs. The staff was inspired by the regular feedback on vaccination rates and the competition with other sites. The staff believed that their efforts made the difference.