Improving Rates of Pneumococcal Vaccination in a Skilled Nursing Facility

Abstract

The pneumonia vaccine is the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease and the high cost of readmission for patients and payors. The readmission rate at a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for a patient with a diagnosis of pneumonia was 24%, whereas the vaccination rate at the SNF was only 28%. This finding is significant because patients aged ≥65 years have a 35% reduction in pneumonia influenzas and all-cause mortality with appropriate pneumococcal vaccination. The current initiative sought to increase the pneumococcal vaccine rate at a SNF through implementation of a structured vaccine initiative. After implementation of a pneumococcal vaccination bundle, vaccine uptake increased from 28% to 66%. The success of the pneumococcal vaccination bundle showed that a focused effort using context-specific, evidence-based interventions can increase vaccine uptake. Adapting an evidence-based bundle to fit the needs of the user's context is an important component to the success of vaccination initiatives. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48 (12), 52–56.]