Author: Brian S McGowan, PhD

The integration of the Mercy Health System’s quality improvement (QI) and continuing medical educational (CME) activities is described. With the implementation of computerized medical data, the opportunities for QI-focused CME are growing. The authors reviewed their regularly scheduled series and special CME programs to assess their impact on quality care processes. Clinical improvements were affected by combining national guidelines and advancements with local clinical data and interactions with physicians within interdisciplinary as well as specialty conferences. Case-based, multidisciplinary conferences lent themselves to this process to a greater extent than didactic conferences. The latter also could lead to QI when the topics were focused on specific quality initiatives that often are part of a national QI initiative. Although the authors consider these efforts to be at an intermediate stage of development, they have observed several QI/patient safety process improvements.

via Integrating Quality Improvement Into Continuing Medical Education Activities Within a Community Hospital System.

Influenza is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Despite long-standing national recommendations, only 47% of adults with a high-risk condition received the influenza vaccine in 2009-2010. Subspecialty practices provide a significant portion of ambulatory care visits for high-risk adults and understanding their role in the immunization infrastructure may increase immunization rates, decrease public health burden, and reduce influenza-associated disease. A cross-sectional survey of cardiology, pulmonology, and obstetrics/gynecology practices was conducted to assess influenza vaccination practices, plans, patient acceptance, frustrations, and reasons for not vaccinating. It was found that 51% of respondents planned to vaccinate patients. Plans differed significantly by practice type. Practices that do not vaccinate generally recommend vaccination and refer patients to public health clinics, primary care, and pharmacies.   Administrative and patient-related barriers affected most practices, but practices that vaccinate were able to overcome these barriers. Improvements in vaccination may be addressed by adapting practice support services for subspecialty practices.

via Delivering Influenza Vaccine to High-Risk Adults.