Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
1. Describe potential strategies for improving influenza vaccination among health care workers;
2. Understand the resource commitment for each strategy.


Background:
A collaborative investigation between the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was undertaken to improve the health care worker (HCW) influenza vaccination rate, which was about 31% last year according to Employee Health's data base. In Year 1, catch-up immunization clinics with food as an incentive, targeted advertising, and messages from a minority vaccination “champion” were used in 7 facilities. In the spring, HCWs from intervention sites were surveyed to determine vaccination status and beliefs regarding influenza vaccination and the previous year's campaign. Year 2 interventions were based on the results.

Setting:
UPMC comprises 19 hospitals including tertiary, specialty and community hospitals across a 29-county area. UPMC has central employee health administration, but depending upon their size and proximity to the flagship hospital, hospitals vary as to their annual influenza vaccination campaigns.

Population:
Health Care Workers

Project Description:
The investigators worked with the administrators of UPMC Employee Health and with a system-wide influenza campaign committee. Corporate Communications provided articles in the system-wide staff newsletter with an article featuring a minority physician vaccination champion, another addressing influenza myths, and a schedule of vaccination clinics in each hospital. Hospital CEOs received a letter stating last year's rate and encouraging improvements in vaccinations and documentation as a matter of quality health care. Peer vaccination on clinical units was offered. Some hospitals received incentives including food at mass clinics, and a lottery for $10 gift certificates or paid time off. Employee Health made roving influenza carts available at some hospitals. Some hospitals received both incentives and carts and some had neither.

Results/Lessons Learned:
Acceptability, difficulties and success of interventions varied across institutions.