WIP 12 - Project I.VIP: Influenza Vaccine Increase in Pediatrics, A Quality Improvement Initiative with Pediatric Residents

Publication Number: WIP 12.7643

Nanea Cavaco, Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Kapolei, HI, United States; Natascha Ching, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Honolulu, HI, United States

Background: Influenza is a contagious illness that can range from mild to severe and progress to life threatening complications. During the 2023-2024 season, influenza caused 41 million illnesses, half a million hospitalizations, and 25,000 deaths. Among pediatric patients, influenza deaths reached a record high. Given the reduction of vaccine preventable diseases, opportunities to vaccinate should be pursued at every patient encounter. This is a Quality Improvement (QI) project to operationalize promotion of influenza vaccinations with pediatric residents in the inpatient setting.

Objective: To implement resident training for screening, ordering, administration, and patient and family education of influenza vaccination. This project aims to increase influenza vaccination rates of inpatient pediatric patients by 30% compared to the prior influenza season.

Design/Methods: This QI project takes place at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Hawaii's only children's hospital. The primary outcome is to increase influenza vaccination rates among pediatric patients aged 6 months to 18 years old admitted during the 2024-2025 influenza season. Exclusion criteria include oncology patients, intensive care unit admission, or influenza vaccine contraindications. Key driver and process maps will be used to plan targeted Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Pediatric residents will be surveyed on their understanding and current process of screening, documenting, and ordering the influenza vaccine. Interventions include an educational kickoff event, monthly training with a planned curriculum for the pediatric residents, and influenza vaccine posters and handouts in the pediatric resident workroom. Electronic medical record changes and new smart phrases for influenza vaccination screen, order, and administration will be constructed to streamline workflow. A post survey of the pediatric residents will be conducted in March 2025. Run charts and non-parametric testing will be used to analyze the data.