Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
12:08
Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Improving pediatric immunization rates in a safety-net delivery system
Paul Melinkovich1, Anne Hammer, Amie Staudenmaier
1Community Health Services, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, USA. Paul.Melinkovich@dhha.org
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
|April 20, 2007
Summary
Denver Community Health Services improved childhood immunization rates by implementing a patient registry and quality improvement initiatives. This led to significant increases in vaccination coverage for young children over a decade.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health Initiatives
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
Background:
- Denver Community Health Services (DCHS) aimed to boost childhood immunization rates within its safety-net system.
- The initiative focused on ensuring children under 3 received all recommended vaccines by 24 months.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a quality improvement initiative on pediatric immunization rates.
- To evaluate the sustainability of improved vaccination coverage over a 10-year period.
Main Methods:
- Development and utilization of a computerized immunization registry for patient tracking.
- Regular assessment of immunization levels with clinic-specific feedback.
- Implementation of team-based quality improvement meetings and protocols to reduce missed vaccination opportunities.
Main Results:
- A 47% increase in immunization rates for 2-year-olds and a 26% increase for 1-year-olds from 1995 to 2006.
- Pediatric immunization rates for 2-year-olds surpassed 85% by the study's conclusion.
- Sustained improvements in vaccination coverage were observed throughout the 10-year initiative.
Conclusions:
- The DCHS initiative successfully enhanced pediatric immunization rates.
- Sustained success was attributed to staff dedication to process improvement and effective use of a patient registry.
- The findings demonstrate a viable model for improving vaccination delivery in safety-net settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The healthcare system is constantly changing and complex. Various services are available from different healthcare providers, but gaining access to these services has become challenging for people with limited healthcare insurance. Uninsured people present a challenge to healthcare because they frequently postpone or forego treatment.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...