AAFP seeks practices for immunization improvement programs

Educating patients about vaccines and building their confidence in immunizations was a challenge for physicians before the start of this decade.

Then the pandemic hit and the situation grew even more challenging for family physicians.

Fortunately, there are tools and resources that can help.

Up to 50 family medicine practices will be chosen to participate in AAFP performance and quality improvement programs that can improve immunization conversations with patients and foster a stronger immunization culture.

Angela Cherry, MD, MBA, FAAFP, participated in an AAFP program through her practice in the Eastern Division of the West Virginia University Department of Family Medicine. She said it helped identify areas to focus on—particularly data collection and staff education.

The practice’s staff was trained to talk with patients about vaccines and to identify patients who were reluctant to be immunized.

“Now the physician is more prepared when we come in the exam room,” Cherry said, “and the patient is already thinking about vaccinations. It made us feel more equipped to have those conversations with patients.”

For example, Cherry said she was better able to explain to patients how and why the flu vaccine changes every year and that the vaccine can offer some protection even when the strains in the vaccine aren’t an exact match for the circulating viruses.

One cohort will feature 25 practices focused on improving vaccine conversations with patients regardless of age group, and another cohort of 25 practices will focus on improving immunization care for adults 50 and older. AAFP members may apply to both programs. The application deadline for both programs is Aug. 10.

Amrish Patel, MD, said the quality improvement program helped his practice in Troutman, North Carolina, build a more systematic approach to adult immunizations and supported meaningful, sustainable change. In addition, he said, the program fostered collaboration among clinicians, staff and community partners.

“I would strongly recommend this program to other family physicians and primary care practices,” said Patel, who co-authored an FPM article based on his cohort’s outcomes. “The program provides a structured, evidence-based framework for improving adult immunization rates while helping practices identify gaps in workflow, documentation, patient outreach and vaccine delivery. The practical tools, educational resources and quality improvement strategies can be readily incorporated into everyday practice.”

Patel’s office is part of a larger, multispecialty medical group. He said the changes implemented in his practice proved valuable enough that several of the strategies were adopted by other practices within the group.

Participation helped his team:

“The program also fostered a culture of accountability and teamwork, making vaccine assessment and recommendation a standard component of patient care,” he said. “These workflow improvements enhanced our overall focus on preventive medicine and adult immunization.”

The program focused on improving patient conversations will have an eight-month intervention period and will provide practices with a $2,000 administrative payment upon completion.

The program focused on immunizations for patients 50 and older will have a five-month intervention period and will provide a $1,000 administrative payment upon completion of milestones.

More information about timelines, reporting requirements, resources and more is available on the application web page.