The H1N1 Lobby Nurse

Background: Our LHJ does not provide direct patient care putting the burden of providing H1N1 vaccine on our clinics and local providers. While teaching clinics and inpatient units about H1N1 I heard the same concerns from staff: How can we add immunizing all patients and families with H1N1?

Setting: MultiCare Health System consists of hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centers located throughout the county.

Population: Our goal was to provide a convenient, centrally located clinic that would provide free H1N1 vaccine to anyone on a walk in basis.

Project Description: We applied for a grant through our LHJ for CDC funding to staff a clinic with a nurse and one full time and one part time administrative assistant. The clinic is located in the lobby of the Children's Health Center directly across the street from an adult hospital, pediatric hospital, and central low cost OB clinic. It is in the same building as all of the high risk children's clinics. It is one mile away from the other local hospital. It is open from 10-1 pm and 2-6 pm daily from Monday through Friday. Mary Bridge Hospital (outside the grant) purchased a medical grade refrigerator for vaccine storage. Information was provided daily on vaccine availability and target groups at the Mobile Immunization Clinic phone. All vaccine was entered into the state registry.

Results/Lessons Learned: The clinic sees 120 to 150 patients per day. We have been reaching our target populations and have served as a central clinic when our local offices were out of H1N1 vaccine. We have received positive feedback from patients, physicians, staff and the LHJ. There were issues common to all H1N1 clinics such as availability and prioritization. The clinic is a very successful project that serves the needs of all members of our community.