title: Tracking and improving influenza immunization rates in a high-risk medicare beneficiary population.
abstract: Immunization rates for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients were well below the 80% target set by Healthy People 2000 and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The authors sought to increase documentation of immunization status, and influenza immunization rates of these patients. A survey was distributed to dialysis facilities to determine immunization practices. Facilities were provided with an immunization toolbox and spreadsheets to document the immunization status of patients. A total of 102 facilities (53%) provided data for three collection periods (1999, 2000, and 2001). Immunization rates for each influenza season increased significantly from 62.1% and 61.4% in 1998-1999 to 80.3% and 80.0% in 2000-2001 (Pennsylvania and Delaware respectively).
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. edcjan@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Janice C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zgibor
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rohay
authors.forename: Shane B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Bonita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freed
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Palevsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines