Becker's Hospital Review

67 FINANCE CMO / CARE DELIVERY Delaying vaccination until October could prevent 22K flu cases, study finds By Mackenzie Bean F all is the best time to start vaccinating people against the flu, according to a study published in the American Jour- nal of Preventive Medicine. For the study, researchers from the Univer- sity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine ran computer models to compare flu likelihood in adults over age 65 vaccinated between Au- gust and May — the typical vaccination pe- riod — or during a compressed period from October to May. Researchers forecasted fig- ures on flu cases, hospitalizations and deaths using CDC data from the 2013-14 and 2014- 15 flu seasons. e study found a compressed vaccination period could save up to 258 lives and prevent up to 22,062 flu cases for normal and late flu seasons, compared to a typical vaccination period. However, if flu season peaks early, hundreds more adults would die during a compressed vaccination period. "ere's controversy in the public health community over whether influenza vacci- nation should happen as soon as the vaccine becomes available in August, or if it's better to wait until later in the fall," lead author Kenneth Smith, MD, professor of medicine and clinical and translational science at Pitt's School of Medicine and a UPMC physician, said in a press release. "What we've found is that it's a balancing act, but if a clinician believes a patient will return for vaccination in the fall, then our analysis shows that it is best if they advise that patient to wait," he added. n Physicians 'terrorized into silence' by anti-vaccine groups online By Mackenzie Bean M any physicians face online harassment when posting about vaccines on their practices' social media pages, which can often scare them into silence, reported the Los Angeles Times. Since late 2017, anti-vaccine groups have coor- dinated more than 50 online campaigns against providers who advocate for vaccines, according to Chad Hermann, communications director for Pittsburgh-based Kids Plus Pediatrics. Mr. Her- mann has tracked the online harassment cam- paigns by anti-vaccine groups since his practice was targeted in 2017. In the online campaigns, vaccine supporters flood physicians' social media pages with neg- ative comments and reviews. Some campaigns have even escalated to threats of harm, prompt- ing 911 calls, according to Mr. Hermann. "When pediatric practices are being … terrorized into silence, it's going to create a void in the dis- course," he told the Los Angeles Times. "And we all know who's going to fill that: the anti-vax folks." Mr. Hermann and Todd Wolynn, MD, CEO of Kids Plus Pediatrics, are encouraging physicians to stand up to online attacks. They are working on a pro bono project called "Shots Heard Round the World," that offers tips and resources to help physicians fight the attacks and promote pro-vaccine messages. n Employee engagement crucial for patient-centered care, says Press Ganey By Mackenzie Bean E mployee alignment and engagement is crucial for health systems seeking to build an organizational structure that sup- ports patient-centered care, according to Press Ganey's 2019 Strategic Insights report, "Accelerating Transformation: Translating Strategy Into Action." For the report, Press Ganey researchers reviewed workforce en- gagement data, Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades and HCAHPS per- formance data for 253 healthcare facilities nationwide. They found hospitals with high workforce engagement performed better on safety grades and HCAHPS ratings. The report outlines strategies hospitals can use to create an organi- zational structure that encourages employee engagement to drive safety, quality and patient experience. Press Ganey cited three main steps to achieve this structure: • Align under one enterprisewide transformational vision • Build a change-ready culture by engaging the workforce and empowering leaders • Adopt an integrated data and management strategy "There is no shortcut or 'easy button' on the journey to deliver- ing patient-centered care," Patrick Ryan, Press Ganey's executive chairman, said in a press release. "For healthcare transformation to occur, leaders must gain a deep understanding of patients' and caregivers' needs and establish an integrated strategy to meet those needs reliably every day. An aligned culture working toward a shared vision is the single most important aspect to achieving transformation." n

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