Improving Vaccination Documentation Rates Among Patients With Breast Cancer Through Patient Outreach

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

• Patients with cancer face elevated risks of infection-related complications and mortality.
• Vaccinations are crucial for mitigating infection burden in cancer patients.
• Low vaccination documentation rates were observed in a 2021 academic medical center breast clinic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention aimed at enhancing vaccination documentation.
• To improve the rates of vaccination documentation among breast cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the 4 Pillars™ Practice Transformation Program over 16 weeks.
• Oncology nurse navigator assessed and documented vaccination history, consulted with providers, and recommended vaccinations.
• Conducted telephone follow-up for vaccination completion and documentation within two weeks.

Main Results:

• Substantial increases in vaccination follow-up and documentation for influenza, shingles, and pneumococcal vaccines.
• Demonstrated a significant rise in vaccination documentation rates.
• The intervention proved effective in improving documentation.

Conclusions:

• An education and outreach program can effectively increase vaccination documentation rates in breast cancer patients.
• Targeted quality improvement initiatives are vital for enhancing preventive care in oncology settings.
• Improved documentation supports better patient management and outcomes.