PILOT PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS PHARMACISTS’ KEY ROLE IN IDENTIFYING AND RESOLVING UNMET VACCINATION NEEDS
Washington, D.C. – The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation today announced results from the pilot phase of Project IMPACT Immunizations. The results show that adult vaccination needs are better addressed when pharmacists have bi-directional access to immunization information systems (IIS) data that enables them to conduct comprehensive vaccination history reviews at the point-of-care.
Summary of Key Findings
For every study patient that requested an influenza vaccination from the pharmacy, an additional 1.45 vaccines were forecasted as due at the point-of-care
33.5 percent of the identified unmet vaccination needs were resolved during the six-month study period
95.3 percent were administered by the pharmacist at the point-of-care
4.7 percent were resolved at a patient-initiated follow up visit
There was a 41.4 percent increase in the number of vaccines administered as a result of this innovative model of care
The full report of the pilot project is published in Population Health Management.
“We are encouraged by the outcomes of the pilot phase and look forward to scaling Project IMPACT Immunizations,” said Benjamin Bluml, RPh Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation of the APhA Foundation. “The results validate that pharmacists can help identify and resolve unmet vaccination needs by recommending appropriate vaccines based on a person’s individual needs, particularly when equipped with innovative point-of-care technologies that support a streamlined process of care.”
Project IMPACT Immunizations is a multi-phase initiative designed to evaluate what population health improvements are possible when pharmacists implement an innovative care model in community pharmacy practice settings to address unmet adult vaccination needs. During the pilot phase pharmacists reviewed patient-specific vaccination forecasts that were generated by clinical decision support technology within the bi-directional IIS at the time the patient requested an influenza vaccine.
The forecasts identified the patient’s unmet vaccination needs based on the current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommendations. Having access to this information at the point-of-care provided pharmacists with opportunities to educate patients and recommend appropriate vaccines based on a patient’s individual needs. At the point-of-care, pharmacists were able to administer vaccines within their scope of practice and document the administered vaccines in the bi-directional IIS to update the patient’s vaccine record, thus contributing to the patient’s immunization record that is available to all the members of the healthcare team that have access to the IIS.
The APhA Foundation partnered with eight community pharmacies to implement the pilot phase. The implementation was made possible through generous support from Merck and the APhA Foundation. The Washington State Pharmacy Association provided state-level support in the project. The bi-directional IIS used in each participating pharmacy was supported by Scientific Technologies Corporation.
About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. works to design solutions to medication use problems in America. The APhA Foundation is affiliated with the American Pharmacists Association, the oldest and largest national professional society of pharmacists in the United States established in 1852. The APhA Foundation’s mission is to improve people’s health through pharmacists’ patient care services.
About Merck
For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world - including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
About Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC)
Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC) is recognized as a leading public health informatics company in the United States. Since 1988, STC has leveraged their experience to develop solutions important to addressing and solving critical public health issues.