Increased use of pneumococcal vaccination in a medicine clinic following initiation of a quality assessment monitor.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the use of pneumococcal vaccination in a general medicine ambulatory clinic and the effect of a quality assessment monitor on use.


METHODS
A prospective 8-month (October 1990 through May 1991) survey and 8-month (October 1989 through May 1990) retrospective survey of use of pneumococcal vaccination in the clinic.


METHODS
A general medicine clinic where patients are seen for their first internal medicine clinic visit at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa.


METHODS
One thousand sixty adult patients who presented to the clinic during the study interval.


METHODS
The use of the form constituted an intervention.


RESULTS
Use of pneumococcal vaccination was increased more than 5 times over the baseline level following implementation of the quality assessment monitor.


CONCLUSIONS
Underuse of pneumococcal vaccination occurred in this general medicine clinic, and the introduction of a quality assessment monitor constituted an intervention that significantly increased the use of pneumococcal vaccination.
Tobacman
J K
JK
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines