Evidence Based Solutions

Multi-Strategic Vaccination Approaches

The Community Preventive Services Task Force Review of the evidence to improve vaccination rates shows that using strategies from each approach leads to substantially higher vaccination rates compared to using a single strategic approach. The Task Force found clear evidence of these:

1. Increase Patient Demand using: 

•     Patient and reminder and recall systems
•     Patient or family incentive rewards
•     Clinic-based patient education

2. Enhance Access using:

•      Express immunization services during and outside of office hours.
•      Increase length of influenza vaccination season.
•      Utilize all types of visits to vaccinate including home visits.
•      Reduce patient out-of-pocket costs.

3. Provider Reminders and/or Modified Office Systems

•       Standing Order Programs (SOPs)
•       Prompts in Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) or other provider reminders
•       Provider assessment and feedback
•       Immunization information Systems

Further research has shown that the addition of Motivation through an effective immunization champion or other methods helps sustain practice change efforts.

The 4 Pillars Practice Transformation Program was built on these systematic evidence reviews plus two decades of research on barriers and facilitators of vaccination. It is organized around proven methods to increase rates in a way that practices can  modify to meet their unique situation and implement.