Using Data Trends to Implement Effective VFC Quality Assurance/AFIX Strategies

Background:
The Quality Assurance/Assessment Feedback Incentive and eXchange process is an intergral of the VFC Program in San Antonio. By incorporating this methodolgy VFC ensures provider compliance with program requirements and evaluates their progress on keeping their patients up to date on their immunizations through routine coverage assessments. The utilization of data trends have documented provider successes, need for remedial solutions, and has helped to develope effective coverage strategies.

Setting:
Public and Private facilities.

Population:
Residents of Bexar County and surrounding counties.

Project Description:
VFC site visits and assessment review visits are routinely conducted with public and private providers throughout Bexar County. The site visit results are evaluated to determine compliance with VFC Program requirements and assessment review visit results and data trends are discussed with individual providers detailing the immunization coverage for children in their practice.

Results/Lessons Learned:
Over the past five years, assessment data shows that immunization coverage rates have an average increase of 20%. Within this period, 52 providers have received coverage rates of 100%. Site visits have helped to identify practices in need of remedial education or corrective action. The program has been instrumental in using this data to discover major problems such as screening for VFC eligibility, cold chain documentation, establishing guidelines for handling and storing vaccines in the event of an emergency, initiating a reminder/recall system, and supplying provider based recommendations designed to improve immunization coverage rates.
The VFC Program has assessment data spanning five years with which to evaluate the effectiveness of provider assessment endeavors. The assessment data gathered, clearly documents that routine assessment and feedback of vaccination rates at the provider level is an effective strategy for improving immunization coverage rates. With this information, the QA/AFIX Team has been able to assist providers in finding solutions and producing improvement in immunization coverage levels.