An initiative to improve pneumococcal immunization counseling in children with nephrotic syndrome

• Published in: Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, West) Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 1333 - 1338
• Main Authors: Sandokji, Ibrahim, Anderson, Linda S., Warejko, Jillian K., Emerson, Beth L., Greenberg, Jason H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-06-2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Child; Children; Counseling; Electronic health records; Electronic medical records; Humans; Immunization; Immunocompromised hosts; Kidney diseases; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nephrology; Nephrotic syndrome; Nephrotic Syndrome - complications; Original; Original Article; Pediatrics; Pneumococcal Infections - prevention & control; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Polysaccharides; Primary care; Quality control; Urology; Vaccination; Vaccines; United States; Pneumococcal; Pediatrics; Quality improvement; Immunization; Nephrotic syndrome; Electronic health records
• ISSN: 0931-041X; 1432-198X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00467-021-05305-3

Background
Immunization is essential in preventing life-threatening pneumococcal infections in children with nephrotic syndrome. An additional 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) series is required for children with nephrotic syndrome. Despite current practice guidelines, many children with nephrotic syndrome do not receive PPSV23.
Methods
Our nephrology clinic conducted a quality improvement project to improve the overall rate of PPSV23 counseling to more than 70% within a 12-month period by applying several targeted interventions to raise providers’ awareness, improve communication with primary care providers, and increase provider adherence. Data was collected from the electronic health record (EHR), and monthly performance was tracked via monthly control charts and overall immunization counseling rate charts.
Results
We increased adherence to PPSV23 vaccination counseling from a baseline of 12 to 86%. The first intervention that effectively increased the vaccine counseling rate from 12 to 30% was improving a provider’s awareness of the PPSV23 literature and vaccine guidelines. Other interventions included regular performance reviews at division meetings, creating an immunization protocol, posting performance charts on the office bulletin board, and unifying vaccine recommendation templates. Lastly, specific and timely EHR reminders improved the total counseling rate from 52 to 86% and maintained adherence until the completion of the project.
Conclusion
Bridging the knowledge gap in provider awareness and using specific EHR reminders can improve adherence to PPSV23 counseling in children with nephrotic syndrome. Such interventions could be applied to similar groups of immunocompromised patients in whom additional vaccines are indicated.
Graphical abstract
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.