KEYWORDS:
Incentive, AFIX, CASA, Education

BACKGROUND:
During 2000 & 2001 there have been more than 200 completed AFIX visits in private provider offices. Private providers volunteer/request to participate in the Assessment and Feedback process. The Michigan Department of Community Health AFIX staff focused on the incentive portion of AFIX in 2001. It is recognized that private providers have many priorities and challenges and that this is especially true with immunizations. Efforts to enhance immunization programs and coverage levels using the AFIX process should be acknowledged and encouraged to sustain needed change.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To motivate and encourage private providers in their efforts to improve immunizations.

METHOD(S):
Practices who participated in an AFIX visit during the previous year were notified by phone and letter that their participation and efforts are recognized and were being rewarded. Providers were invited to send one member of their clinical staff to a statewide immunization conference free. The conference registration fee is $45. At the conferences, provider staff that attended from each of the practices were given an “Immunization Guru” button. The button depicted a guru on a mountaintop with the words Assessment & Feedback. At lunch, boxes of chocolate were given to those attendees wearing guru buttons.

RESULT(S):
Thirty-eight of sixty-five provider offices had a staff person attend. All were recognized and efforts were acknowledged during an award session at the conferences. Helping others at the conferences see who had participated in the AFIX process. Conference attendees were encouraged to ask the people wearing “immunization guru” buttons about their AFIX experience. MDCH received several requests from other providers for an AFIX visit.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Incentives were met with enthusiasm. Support and encouragement are key to sustain growth. Staff was appreciative for what the process did for their practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe one method where incentives give recognition and create friendly competition.