BACKGROUND:
Public Health – Seattle & King County has been conducting site visits of health care providers participating in Vaccines for Children since 1995. We have added 24 questions to the VFC site visit questionnaire and adjusted clinic record assessment methods to better assess the quality of immunization practices. Based on data using the enhanced site visit questionnaire, quality improvement strategies have been developed and are being tested.

OBJECTIVE:
To describe how a peer-based education program uses an enhanced version of the VFC site visit questionnaire to assess the quality of an immunization practice.
To discuss the potential quality improvement and cost benefit of VFC site visits alone as compared with VFC site visit combined with an educational session.

METHOD:
Clinic immunization records assessment (AFIX) and site visit questionnaire data from 72 site visits conducted in 2004 are analyzed. VFC sites are assessed for quality in three categories; storage and handling, vaccine administration, and immunization practice. Cost information is gathered and compared to changes in quality indicators and immunization rates for analysis of value added from site visits and training sessions.

RESULT:
Results from the quality assessment and AFIX data will be presented along with a discussion of potential cost benefits.

CONCLUSION:
Data collected from both the VFC site visit questionnaire and records review can be used to improve provider immunization practices. Specific strategies will be discussed.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Learn about common practice quality problems among immunization providers.
Learn how the VFC site visit tool can be used to assess and promote the quality of an immunization practice.
Learn about potential cost savings of a peer based education program and VFC site visits to health care providers and to the Vaccines for Children program.