Impact of Pharmacist Assessment of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Status with Intervention on Vaccination Rates for Patients Admitted to the Internal Medicine Service

Background: Pneumococcal and influenza diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality for patients. Vaccination may decrease the incidence of disease or disease burden. Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates are increasingly linked to performance measures, which may affect hospital reimbursement. Wishard Health Services (now Eskenazi Health) previously had nursing complete a vaccination history assessment for patients and licensed independent practitioners interpret the data from that screening, assess whether the patient meets criteria for vaccination, and order the vaccinations. Previous studies have shown involving pharmacists in the vaccination screening process significantly increases vaccination rates. One study was able to achieve a nearly 90% vaccination rate due to pharmacist screening. As part of a pilot program to increase vaccination rates at Wishard Health Services, pharmacists rounding with internal medicine teams assessed patients for vaccine need and ordered the vaccinations pursuant to a verbal order from the licensed independent practitioner. Study objective: Describe the impact of pharmacist assessment of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination status with intervention on vaccination rates for patients admitted to the internal medicine service at Wishard Health Services. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review. Patients were included in the study if they were admitted to the internal medicine service at Wishard Health Services between November 1 - 30, 2012 or November 1 - 30, 2013. Twenty percent of patients were reviewed and data points that were collected include: whether the patient was screened for vaccination by pharmacy and/or nursing, if the patient had any indications or contraindications for vaccination, whether the vaccination was ordered, administered or refused. Vaccination rates from 2013 were compared to the pre-pilot rates from 2012 data. Additionally, rates from 2013 were compared for patients on a pharmacist-rounding team versus those without a pharmacist rounding with them. Data analysis is ongoing at this time