KEYWORDS:
Adult Immunization, Long-Term Care

BACKGROUND:
The "Standing Orders Project to Increase Coverage Rates for Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccines in Long-Term Care Facilities" is a collaboration on influenza and pneumococcal vaccination between CMS and CDC. Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) in nine states were selected to participate in this project. Since that time, QIOs have begun working with long- term care facilities in their states to design and implement intervention strategies to improve the quality of care for patients residing in these facilities.

OBJECTIVE(S):
The overall goal of this project is to reduce the burden of vaccine preventable diseases by improving influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage levels among residents of long-term care facilities.

METHOD(S):
MN's QIO will present their state-specific approach to the project. Successful implementation of a QIO quality improvement study focusing on system change relies heavily on the participation of appropriate facilities, thus insights on developing effective strategies for project recruitment will be shared. Implementing quality improvement initiatives in a long-term care setting has a unique set of challenges. In this session you will learn tips for implementing effective strategies for pneumococcal and influenza immunization in long-term care settings. This project boasts a variety of opportunities for utilizing existing partnerships and establishing new collaborative efforts.

RESULT(S):
Two-year survey results will be shared that show nursing homes' immunization policies and practices.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
The work of this project will be examined to provide CMS, the QIO community, and other interested parties with information on how to most effectively work with long-term care facilities to successfully implement future projects.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Understand the importance of immunization standing orders
· Promote effective recruitment strategies in long-term care facilities
· Understand and effectively diminish barriers to facilitating quality improvement programs in long-term care facilities.
· Describe steps in establishing project partnerships.
· Define strategies to assist in measurement and evaluation.