The team at Westside Medical in Port Macquarie were concerned about the vulnerability of their high-risk patients to influenza this year. To increase vaccine uptake, they decided to apply the lessons learned from the past 18 months of vaccinating for SARS-CoV-2. These included:
- communicating vaccine availability
- providing information about vaccine safety and effectiveness, and
- addressing people’s concerns.
Taking a team approach they mobilised their skilled team of general practitioners, nurse immunisers and receptionists to deploy an influenza vaccination strategy via their website and Facebook page.
They achieved an influenza vaccination rate of 80.5% for over 65s. This is well above the average rate for Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement (PIP QI) data sharing practices across our region which, in the same time period, was at 59%. The last national figures (2021) show an average rate of 64%. It’s outstanding coverage for the over 65 years consumers of this practice.
Not stopping there though, Westside continued their QI and compared this year’s vaccination rate with the rate last year. When they found they were a shade lower (1%) than 2021 for the same period, they reached out to remaining consumers aged over 65 with a letter.
You can see their shared Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) on our Primary Care Impact page for increasing influenza vaccination for high risk groups. With the mailout, they hope to improve even further on their 80.2% in the remainder of the 2022 season!
As part of their QI, Westside reflected on their influenza vaccination rate for over 65s and attributed their success to:
- the way they distributed their clinics
- the flexibility in booking an appointment (patients can book online or contact the practice), and
- facilitating private and funded vaccination opportunities.
Congratulations to the team at Westside Medical who have set the bar high through focused QI and great teamwork.
General practice is the cornerstone of good health in our community and QI is one of the simplest, most direct ways practices can focus on improvements that make a difference.
Visit our Primary Care Impact topics page or talk to your Primary Health Coordinator about an activity that can make a difference to the health of your local community. Share your PDSA and your reflections with your colleagues here in our newsletter.
Mid and North Coast Localised Pathways
User name: manchealth
Password: conn3ct3d