KEYWORDS:
Efficient, office practice, education, immunization, strategies, tools, labels

BACKGROUND:
Idaho has Universal Status for vaccines. Private practice professionals administer 65% of the state supplied vaccines. Idaho’s goal is to immunize 90% of children before the age of 2. A large private pediatric office in Boise, Idaho wanted to increase their immunization rates. A streamlined, efficient immunization practice is one way to increase immunization rates.

OBJECTIVE:
To demonstrate and share proven tools and strategies for creating an efficient and immunization friendly office environment.

METHOD:
Primary Health Pediatrics created a committee consisting of a physician, a nurse, an office manager, and a receptionist. Strategies and tools were developed to reach Idaho’s goal. Tools such as vaccine labels were created and used for documentation. After implementing the strategies and tools in the office and finding success, a manual and a web site, Immunize Idaho, were developed and shared with other practices around the state.

RESULT:
After 4 years of making efforts, developing strategies and instituting tools, Primary Health Pediatrics raised their immunization rate from 38% to 90%.

CONCLUSION:
The tools and strategies that Primary Health Pediatrics implemented increased their immunization rates. These strategies have been shared throughout the state of Idaho. Through an invitation by the Idaho Immunization Program, Primary Health participated in the making of a video describing the use of the tools. They were also invited to present these strategies and tools through statewide workshops that were given to both private offices and public clinics.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To efficiently document immunizations with labels, to understand the importance of accurate record keeping, to understand how to streamline vaccine accountability, and to involve staff and develop cooperation in the office practice.