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HealthInsight Partnering with Nevada Nursing Homes to Increase Immunization Rates for the Elderly, Reduce Illnesses and Deaths This Flu Season

Influenza and invasive pneumococcal disease kill more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable deaths combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help prevent flu-related deaths, HealthInsight, the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Nevada, is recommending flu shots for seniors in longterm care facilities, and more specifically in nursing homes.

Recommendations for flu shot immunization coincide with an October 7, 2005 announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which set new rules for the conditions of participation in Medicare for long-term care facilities.

"As a QIO, we strive to help ensure that the right care is delivered to every person, every time in Nevada. Flu is among the unnecessary killers of the elderly and increasing immunization rates in nursing homes will help to keep more of our seniors healthy during this flu season," said Robert Shreck, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs for HealthInsight.

The new rule (CMS-3198-F) requires that long-term care facilities have policies and procedures in place to ensure that, before being offered influenza or pneumococcal immunization, each resident and/or the resident's legal representative is informed about the benefits and potential side effects of these immunizations. It also requires that all residents be offered immunizations unless medically contraindicated or already immunized during the time period identified, which is between October 1 and March 31, annually for influenza, and once in a lifetime for the pneumococcal vaccine (which can be given at any time during the year). The resident or resident's legal representative must also have the opportunity to refuse immunization. Finally, the resident's medical record must include documentation that indicates each of the abovementioned requirements have been met.

Research shows that among older persons who reside in nursing homes, the flu vaccine has been reported to be 50 to 60 percent effective in preventing influenza-related hospitalization or pneumonia, and 80 percent effective in preventing influenza-related death. HealthInsight is a resource for long-term care facilities to interpret and understand the application of this new rule. For more information, contact Jackie Buttaccio at 702-933-7314 or jbuttaccio@healthinsight.org.