One influenza vaccine clinic’s experience
Interest based on hypothetical questions is one thing. The process of actually implementing a 2D bar code scanning system into a health care center is another. In a separate presentation, Jane Glaser, MSN, RN, executive director of Campbell County Public Health in Gillette, Wyo., reviewed how such a system was implemented for mass influenza vaccination.
Campbell County, in the northeast corner of Wyoming, covers more than 4,800 square miles, has a population base of nearly 50,000 people, and also serves individuals from Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Although the community as a whole works 24/7 in the county because of the oil, mining, and farming industries, the mass flu clinic is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., during which it provides an estimated 700 to 1,500 flu vaccines daily. Personnel comprises 13 public health nurses, 5 administrative assistants, and 3-4 community volunteers.
After 20 years of using an IIS, the clinic’s leadership decided to begin using 2D bar code scanners in October 2011 after observing it at a state immunization conference. Their goals in changing systems were to increase clinic flow, decrease registration time, and decrease overtime due to data entry. The new work flow went as follows: Those with Wyoming driver licenses or state ID cards have the linear bar code on their ID scanned in the immunization registry, which automatically populates the patient’s record. Then the staff member enters the vaccine information directly into the IIS registry in real time after the client receives the vaccine.
Ms. Glaser describes a number of improvements that resulted from use of the bar code scanning system, starting with reduced time for clinic registration and improved clinic flow. They also found that using bar code scanning reduced manual entry errors and improved the efficiency of assessing vaccination status and needed vaccines. Entering data in real time at point of care reduced time spent on data entry later on, thereby leading to a decrease in overtime and subsequent cost savings.
For providers and practices interested in learning more about 2D bar coding, the CDC offers a current list of 2D bar coded vaccines, data from the pilot program, training materials, and AAP guidance about 2D bar code use.
None of three presentations noted external funding, and all the researchers reported no financial relationships with companies that profit from bar code scanning technology. Deloitte Consulting, was involved in the three-part project conducted by the CDC.