FROM: Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: Jun 11, 2007
SUBJECT: Home Health Quality Initiative: CMS Adult Immunization Re-Measurement Survey
IPRO CONTACTS:
Sara Butterfield, RN, BSN, CPHQ, CCM, Upstate Director, HCQIP (800) 233-0360 Ext. 104
Since August 2005, IPRO, in contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has collaborated with New York State home health providers to support the CMS comprehensive cross setting effort to improve influenza and pneumococcal immunization rates of Medicare beneficiaries. The measurement goal established by CMS for the home health provider community involves assessment of influenza and pneumococcal immunization status during the comprehensive patient assessment.
In December 2005, CMS requested IPRO to provide the baseline Influenza and Pneumonia Immunization Survey to all New York State Medicare-certified home health providers to determine immunization practices at the agency level. The baseline survey, completed by 98% of the New York providers, indicated that 68% of the agencies had already incorporated assessment for both immunizations into the comprehensive patient assessment.
We are now in the re-measurement period and CMS has requested re-distribution of this same survey tool to assess statewide improvement for inclusion of the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine into the comprehensive patient assessment. The target goal set by CMS for New York is for achievement of at least an 80% statewide rate for assessment of both immunizations.
Attached please find a hard copy of the survey that may be faxed to 518-426-3418 upon completion. The survey is also available for completion on-line at the following URL address: http://www.ipro.org/survey/hha-immunization/hha-index.php. For either format, we ask you to submit your responses no later than 08/31/07.
Your review and completion of the enclosed Influenza and Pneumonia Immunization Survey Tool is greatly appreciated. The approximate time required to complete the survey is 10 minutes. We will be aggregating the survey responses to continue our work with agencies to implement best practices and strategies to improve/enhance immunization activities.
We look forward to your continued participation in this important endeavor. Working together, we can have a significant impact on the health and quality of care provided to patients. If you have questions regarding this memorandum or would like additional information, please contact Sara Butterfield at 1-800-233-0360 Ext.104.