KEYWORDS:
Immunization
WIC
Education
BACKGROUND:
With a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, the Camden Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a community-based organization, collaborated with health care providers and the Camden County Health Department’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program to improve immunization rates in Camden City.
OBJECTIVE(S):
Ensure that a minimum of 95% of WIC clients had health care insurance.
Ensure that a minimum of 95% of WIC clients had medical homes.
Utilize the NJ Immunization Registry to improve immunization rates.
METHOD(S):
Used a systems approach to improving immunization rates, including:
WIC Client Education
Feedback to healthcare providers
Cost-effective outreach
Data analysis and reporting
Coordination and evaluation of all activities.
RESULT(S):
1. 99% of WIC clients have medical homes.
2. 99.7% of WIC clients have health insurance.
3. 42% increase in immunization rates (1996-2001) at pilot site and significant increases in immunization rates reported by other health care providers.
4. WIC clients compliant with provider appointments, understanding the importance of immunizations and enrolled in health care insurance plans.
5. Changes in provider practices; decrease in missed opportunities, adherence to immunization schedule, improved workflow.
6. A WIC/AHEC model to improve immunization rates in the inner city.
CONCLUSIONS(S):
The Program is a good example of a Public Private Partnership. WIC serves as the gateway to medical homes resulting in improved immunization rates. Feedback to providers and cost-effective outreach and education are key to the success of an immunization program.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The participant will describe the role of WIC in improving immunization rates.
The participant will list the steps in implementing the WIC/AHEC Client and Provider Education Model.
Back to Connect: Connections Through Linkage
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Back to The 2002 Immunization Registry Conference of CDC