'Show & Tell' facts about vaccines during adult immunization week
PHILADELPHIA - This week, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM) is launching an educational tool kit to more than 43,000 general internists nationwide to help improve the immunization rates of patients cared for by its members.
The kit was developed as part of the ACP-ASIM Adult Immunization Initiative to help physician members prepare for National Adult Immunization Awareness Week, October 14-20, 2001.
"These free materials are designed to help open the lines of communication between doctor and patient about adult immunization," explains Greg Poland, MD, FACP, chair of the ACP-ASIM Adult Immunization Initiative Physician Advisory Board.
"These patient awareness tools have a central theme of "Show & Tell." They encourage patients to ask their doctors to show them the facts about immunization, and tell their doctors if they have received any immunization at another location, so their records can be updated."
The tools include:
- The "Show & Tell" Patient Awareness Poster - a 17" x 24" four-color poster for exam and waiting rooms that covers indications for a number of recommended adult immunizations - not just influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Flyer-sized versions are also available for doctors who have limited wall space.
- "I've Been Immunized" Forms - a checklist that helps the patient remember what immunizations they may have received at health fairs, pharmacies, travel clinics or emergency rooms and allows the doctor to update the patient files. This form also reminds the patient of immunizations they might need.
- Vaccine Administration Records - available on the College Web site, for physicians and staff to document immunizations the patient has received, and review what immunizations may still be needed.
The tools are another offering from the ACP-ASIM Adult Immunization Initiative, a program to help doctors of internal medicine improve the rates of adult immunization against influenza, pneumonia and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
All of these materials are available for download from the Adult Immunization section of the ACP-ASIM Web site at www.acponline.org/aii/. Physician members who were not part of the mailing to general internists will be sent these materials for free upon request.
ACP-ASIM is the nation's largest medical specialty society, with 115,000 internal medicine physicians and medical students. Its three-year immunization initiative includes physician education and office support tools to help incorporate immunization into doctors' practices, and advocacy for adequate reimbursement of vaccines and administration costs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 20,000 people, mostly over age 65, die from complications of the flu during epidemics. Every year, more than 10,000 people die from pneumococcal infections.
The ACP-ASIM adult immunization initiative is sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth Lederle Vaccines and Merck Vaccine Division.