Becker's Hospital Review

55 Executive Briefing at least one recommended vaccine. The success of the adolescent messaging initiative spurred the health system to launch a similar program for adult vaccination reminders in 2013. MetroHealth estimates this program has led to substantial improvements in adult vaccination rates among its patient population. Additionally, MetroHealth offers patients access to an online portal, which contains reminders for future services, including vaccinations, and provides patients access to summaries of care visits and their personal vaccine history. To encourage utilization of the portal, patients are educated about its benefits and uses at multiple care contact points. Additionally, vaccination reminders prompt patients to self-report vaccines received outside the health system. When patients report not receiving a certain vaccine, the reminder prompts patients to select one of 3 options in response: • They intend to get the vaccine. • They're unsure if they'll get the vaccine. • They decline to get the vaccine. Based upon the patient's selected response, MetroHealth targets vaccine outreach, such as informing patients who are interested in vaccination where and when they can receive the vaccine. 3. Support clinicians through health IT training and EHR solutions. MetroHealth also uses the EHR to offer clinical decision-making support to providers during patient visits. During patient interactions, the EHR alerts providers to clinical reminders and best practice advisories for vaccination. Clinicians also have access to patient demographic data, vaccine history, allergies, and possible history of adverse events. Additionally, when a vaccine is administered as a part of a series, the EHR prompts clinicians to schedule future orders for additional doses. The decision-making support solution improved workflow efficiency for MetroHealth by reducing the amount of time staff spends generating manual reports and conducting patient outreach. Staff training is an important part of the effectiveness of MetroHealth's vaccine initiative. The health system invests in staff training to ensure providers are getting the most out of its health IT solutions. Types of training offered to MetroHealth providers include online modules and in-person educational services. 4. Exchange health information and enable electronic prescribing. The exchange of patient health information is vital to improving quality, safety, patient outcomes, and coordination of care. To ensure the integration of accurate patient health information into the clinical workflow, MetroHealth exchanges health information, including information on vaccinations, with multiple health systems across the Cleveland metropolitan area thousands of times every day. "MetroHealth recognized the inherent potential for their technology to connect clinical information from outside their four walls," Dr. Kaelber said. "By creating a strategy, this technology was integrated into clinical workflow to improve health care quality and improve the patient experience." According to Dr. Kaelber, health IT solutions have likely benefited MetroHealth providers through improved efficiency, assisting in the delivery of quality care and enabling vaccination administration at multiple points in the care cycle. The information exchange system also maximizes the benefits of electronic prescribing. When a patient is unable to receive a vaccine in a clinic setting, a prescription for the vaccine is then delivered electronically to the patient's preferred pharmacy. The system also immediately alerts MetroHealth of vaccinations administered to patients at retail pharmacies. A new era of improved vaccination coverage through technology As MetroHealth's vaccine program demonstrates, health IT solutions have the potential to help health systems improve vaccination rates among certain patient populations. The near ubiquitous use of technologies such as smartphones among the US population offers a significant opportunity for vaccination outreach. In fact, numbers suggest there are more cell phones in the US than there are people, most (87%) adults in the US have a cell phone, and that rate may be higher in low-income populations. "Technology, ever present in society, offers new and emerging methods to improve vaccination coverage. Because of its prevalence and flexibility, technology provides promising tools to address vaccination barriers for families, health care providers, and the broader community." Hospital and health system leaders looking to bring their respective organizations into this new era can look to health systems like MetroHealth as models for health IT adoption. n HIMSS=Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. In the 20th century, improvements to childhood survival rates boosted life expectancy in the United States. This was largely attributable to reduced pediatric mortality linked to infectious disease. Vaccination and improved sanitation can, in large part, be credited for this advancement, according to the CDC. For more than a century, Merck has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, Merck continues be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

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