Improving influenza vaccination rates for high-risk inpatients

This report presents data concerning the effectiveness of an inpatient ''flu shot'' program established in 1989 at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. The program was an adaptation of an outpatient vaccination program at the same facility. Patients without contraindications were given a shot upon discharge from the hospital or ward (if nonambulatory). Special inservice training was conducted for ward nurses. A sample of 274 patients was selected from the list of 547 patients over 64 years who were discharged during a 2-month period and surveyed by postcard questionnaire regarding receipt of the flu shot, medical condition, and demographic variables. A randomly selected group of outpatients received the same questionnaire. In- and outpatient response rates were 78.3 percent and 76.6 percent, respectively. Elderly inpatients reported more serious illness than elderly outpatients; 75.7 percent of the inpatients had lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, or other serious illness, compared with 52.2 percent of outpatients. The vaccination rate for the inpatients was 78.6 percent, higher than the goal of the immunization program. Inpatients were more likely than outpatients to have been vaccinated at the VA Medical Center. The results show that an outpatient vaccination program can be effectively adapted to inpatients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)