Improving pneumococcal vaccination rates through a targeted recall activity

About the practice

MyLocalDoc is a network of locally operated GP Clinics throughout Australia. We aim to bring together local doctors and their community of patients with an outcome of exceptional patient care. Our practices are crafted to set a high standard of personal and professional general medicine for the entire family.

What inspired the practice to complete this QI activity?

Elderly people are 1 of the high-risk priority populations for pneumococcal infections. It is estimated that only 1 in 4 eligible Australians aged over 70 have receive the NIP-funded 13vPCV pneumococcal vaccination (Prevenar 13). 

Brisbane South PHN funded Healthily to deliver a GoShare SMS recall activity focused on increasing the number of Prevenar 13 vaccinations given to eligible patients in practices in the Brisbane south region. 

As MyLocalDocs Wishart (the practice) has a large aging population, preventing pneumococcal infections is a priority for them.

The practice reflected that they were initially apprehensive to do the recall activity as they thought it would be time intensive however, they were quite surprised that the activity was very straight forward and easy. Practice nurse, Debra quoted ‘’It really didn’t take a lot of work to get the patients in. It was actually quite easy to do’’.

The activity was available to practices with MedicalDirector or Best Practice clinical software and included:

• a 15-minute phone call to support the use of the GoShare app and guide through the steps of the activity. 

• support to identify eligible patients

• free SMS credits. 

• information and education on the risks associated with pneumococcal and benefits of the Prevenar 13 vaccine included in SMS’s to patients. 

The challenge

The practice highlighted that education is key for patient activation with vaccinations and that patients don’t often come in asking for specific vaccinations such as Prevenar 13. Debra said ‘’we have to be deliberate in prompting patients but we often don’t have time to do recalls’’.

Debra went on to say ‘’that is why this activity is so good as it helps to identify eligible patients and provides them with education as to why having the Prevenar 13 vaccine is important’’.  

What we did

After Debra expressed interest in the activity, Healthily made contact to book in the 15-minute phone call and to offer step-by-step instructions to  identify the eligible patients. Debra said ‘’the process was very straight forward and easy, and we felt supported. Once it was set up, we didn’t have to do a whole lot of work’’. 

The practice included discussions on the activity in their regular clinical team meetings to get whole team involved and to make sure everyone was informed. 

The doctors and nurses were proactive in having opportunistic discussions with patients regarding pneumococcal. Debra said ‘’Having the doctors and nurses work together to have opportunistic conversations with patients was really effective’’. 

Patients offered feedback that they felt supported with the information and education included in the SMS. Debra suggested that this helped with patient activation.   

Results and impact

A total of 1,082 eligible patients were identified as due or overdue for their Prevenar 13 vaccination. Of these, 841 patients received a recall SMS invitation. 

An initial review of vaccination data from the 100 days prior to the activity showed that 46 patients had received a Prevenar 13 vaccine.

Following 30 days of running the SMS recall activity, 184 patients attended the practice for vaccination. 

Graph 1 illustrates the number of Prevenar 13 vaccinations administered before, during, and after the GoShare SMS recall activity. In total, 363 patients received a Prevenar 13 vaccine during the activity and in the 70 days that followed — an overall increase of 317 vaccinations. This represents a significant improvement in vaccination uptake and supports better patient health outcomes.

Source: Healthily Pneumococcal vaccine SMS campaign activity log 

Debra highlighted that considering the limited amount of time and effort it took to establish the activity; it is a great improvement opportunity for vulnerable patients on a small investment of time.

What will the practice do to ensure this becomes business as usual

The practice has confirmed that the doctors and nurses will continue discussions with patients on pneumococcal vaccinations. Debra also said ‘’we will definitely do this activity again’’.

What can other practices do to participate? (Key messages for other practices)

Debra said ‘’get involved! The activity was really easy and there was a lot of support provided’’.   

If you are interested in completing the pneumococcal vaccination recall program at your general practice, please click on the following link to register your interest: What we offer | Brisbane South PHN