The establishment and validation of the mobile immunization team concept at a clinic level.
Higgins, S J; Walls, E A; Fisher, A G; Smith, D C; Humphries, T J
Why this matters
Bringing immunization to people at work rather than asking them to come in is an old idea with measured results. An Air National Guard clinic serving about 1,100 personnel used a mobile immunization team over two years and held compliance at its target of 90 percent or better.
Abstract
Faced with unacceptably low and declining overall immunization compliance, as well as specific flu immunization compliance, the Executive Committee of a 32-person Air National Guard clinic asked the nursing service to devise a method of correcting these deficiencies as rapidly as possible and maintaining immunization compliance at a rate of 90% or better of the total patient population of approximately 1,100 full-time and Guard personnel for whom the clinic was responsible. The concept of a mobile immunization team was devised and validated over a 2-year interval. In order to successfully develop and implement this concept, command emphasis and a high level of cooperation from both clinic personnel and the Unit Commanders involved was requested and received. The make-up of the team, risk management, the timing and place of team visits, and record keeping were among the problems addressed and resolved. The mobile immunization team concept was a success, achieving excellent overall immunization compliance and outstanding compliance with the flu immunization program over a 2-year period.