Immunization
Immunization Education Program Summary
MoAAP is fortunate to be working with the Department of Health and Senior Services on an immunization improvement project. For the past two years the focus has been improving adolescent immunization rates. Adolescent Medicine physicians from across the state have given numerous talks in all four quadrants of the state and have challenged practices to select at least one strategy for improvement within their practice.
“Improving Adolescent Immunization Rates,” as the presentation is titled, is a review of the latest recommendations for teen shots. The discussion includes very brief comments about each new vaccine or recommendation as well as some general ideas of how to work with adolescent patients and their families. Finally, the concept of the medical home for the adolescent is introduced and the AAP model of what a medical home is listed. 
This 30 minute program is available to any pediatric practice in Missouri as long as resources allow through a grant given to the Chapter. Lunch is provided for the entire practice personnel and the brief presentation given. Discussion then centers on what could be done to improve teen rates for that particular practice. Of course, the presenter has heard several of these discussions and can offer suggestions. Having the front office personnel, nurses and doctors at the presentation is essential since changing behavior of the practice is incumbent on everyone. Many practices involved in the program so far have identified that just reviewing a teen’s immunization status against the latest recommendations is an easy first step. Some have chosen for nurses to flag charts of patients that need an update.
A handful of practices participated last year in an evaluation of immunization rates before and after the presentations. Trends were seen for improvement after just one presentation and discussion.
Daryl A. Lynch, M.D., FSAM, FAAP
If your practice is interested in receiving this program, please contact Misty Patterson, Project Manager, at 573-446-6331 or mpatterson@moaap.org.
Adolescent Immunization - What Teens Need To Know (brochure)
Adolescent Immunization - What Parents Need To Know (brochure)