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Updated: May 2, 2026
High-throughput Detection Method for Influenza Virus
Published on: February 4, 2012
Automated Screening of Hospitalized Children for Influenza Vaccination
Ari H Pollack1, Matthew P Kronman2, Chuan Zhou3
1Division of Nephrology, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine ari.pollack@seattlechildrens.org.
Insights
An automated electronic medical record (EMR) screening program significantly increased hospital-based influenza vaccination rates in children. This system also identified reasons for vaccine declination.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Hospital-based influenza vaccination programs are crucial for disease prevention.
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR) offer potential for automating screening and increasing vaccination rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of an automated EMR-based screening program in increasing influenza vaccination rates among hospitalized children.
- To analyze vaccination history and reasons for vaccine refusal in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of children admitted to a pediatric hospital between 2003 and 2012.
- Comparison of influenza vaccination rates before and after implementation of an automated EMR screening tool.
- Analysis of screening data, including vaccination status, medical contraindications, and caregiver refusal.
Main Results:
- In-hospital influenza vaccination rates increased from 2.1% to 8.0% after the EMR intervention.
- Screening coverage increased from 19.8% to 77.1% during the intervention phase.
- 49.2% of screened children had already received the vaccine, 4.3% had medical reasons for deferral, and 25.6% refused vaccination.
Conclusions:
- Automated EMR-integrated influenza vaccination programs can effectively boost vaccination rates in hospitalized children.
- The system provides valuable data on vaccination status and reasons for non-vaccination, aiding public health strategies.
Background:
This study was designed to determine whether an automated hospital-based influenza vaccination screening program leveraging the electronic medical record (EMR) increases vaccination rates.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective cohort study of all children ≥6 months old admitted to medical, surgical, rehabilitation, or psychiatry services during influenza seasons between 2003 and 2012 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. We compared influenza vaccination rates before (preintervention phase) and after (intervention phase) the introduction of an automated EMR intervention that utilized a nursing-based electronic screening tool to determine eligibility for influenza vaccine and facilitated vaccine ordering without requiring involvement of a physician or other provider.
Results:
Overall, 42 716 (72.8%) of the 58,648 subjects admitted during the study period met inclusion criteria. The intervention phase included 20,651 admissions, of which 11 194 (54.2%) were screened. Screening increased significantly over time in the intervention phase (19.8%-77.1%; P < .001). In-hospital influenza vaccination rates increased from a mean of 2.1% (n = 472) of all subjects preintervention phase to 8.0% (n = 1645) in the intervention phase (odds ratio = 6.8; 95% confidence interval, 6.14-7.47). Of the 11 194 screened subjects, 5505 (49.2%) were found to have already been vaccinated at the time of screening. The screening process identified 478 (4.3%) subjects who were unable to receive vaccine for medical reasons, and an additional 2865 (25.6%) whose caregiver refused the vaccine.
Conclusions:
An automated, hospital-based influenza vaccination program integrated into the EMR can increase vaccinations of hospitalized patients and provide insight into the vaccination history and declination reasons for children not receiving the vaccine.
