Practice Management Resources
National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC)
Standards for implementing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for adult vaccination were published by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) in 2003 and by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2009. In addition, NVAC published a report in 2012 outlining a pathway for improving adult immunization rates. While these documents include guidelines for immunization practice, recent changes in the practice climate for adult immunization necessitated an update of existing adult immunization standards. Some of these changes include expansion of vaccination services offered by pharmacists and other community immunization providers both during and since the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic; vaccination at the workplace; increased vaccination by providers who care for pregnant women; and changes in the health-care system, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires first-dollar coverage of ACIP-recommended vaccines for people with certain private insurance plans, or those who are beneficiaries of expanded Medicaid plans.
- Recommendations from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee: Standards for Adult Immunization
- Assessing the State of Vaccine Confidence in the United States: Recommendations from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee
Quality Improvement Projects Targeting Immunization
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are sometimes required to carry out a quality improvement project. Quality improvement projects may be required for “Maintenance of Certification,” and for some residency training programs.
The Community Guide
The Guide to Community Preventive Services is a free resource to help you choose programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease in your community. Systematic reviews are used to answer these questions:
- Which program and policy interventions have been proven effective?
- Are there effective interventions that are right for my community?
- What might effective interventions cost; what is the likely return on investment?
Immunizations: How to Protect Patients and the Bottom Line
- Minimizing costs and maximizing reimbursement can make immunizations profitable.
Jamie Loehr, MD, FAAFP. Fam Pract Manag. 2015 Mar-Apr;22(2):24-29.