CME: Successful Strategies for Addressing Patient Safety Hot Topics - Immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases as a patient and public safety concern

ACCREDITATION EXPIRED: June 30, 2016

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning program: The overall learning activity will focus on Immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases as a patient and public safety concern, and the role of the physicians and allied health professions play in it. 

• Immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases as a patient and public safety concern: In spite of record low levels of vaccine-preventable diseases over the last decade, there have been resurgences in pockets of communities, making it clear that they play an ongoing role in patient and public safety.  However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC) warns of the risk of complacency.  After considerable progress in the 1980s and early 90s, there has been a tapering of rates of adult vaccinations.  Notably influenza vaccination rates have plateaued since 1997, and just less than two thirds of geriatric patients have received the pneumococcal vaccine.  Of equal concern is a recent report that analyzed CDC data and showed that the rates of nonmedical exemptions from school immunization requirements have doubled in the last half-decade, possibly coinciding with the aforementioned outbreaks, which were characterized predominantly by pertussis, mumps, and varicella.  Reasons include religious and philosophical objections, although it is difficult to measure to what extent the controversy over thimerosal and the link between vaccines and autism – the result largely of a researcher whose work was discredited for misconduct and ethical breach – is recognized as unlikely by the CDC. The number of vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. has risen from five to 16 since the early 1960s.  It includes not only the aforementioned disease states but others ranging from the well-established such as hepatitis and polio to ones of newer focus and interest, such as human papillomavirus, which lowers the risk of not only infectious but also neoplastic disease.  That rates of vaccination have been halted or, in some cases, are falling speaks to a gap in practice, specifically communication to patients and the public at large that may itself be the result of a gap in education among healthcare professionals themselves.  Immunization schedules are regularly changed by the CDC, and that healthcare professionals are oftentimes unable to keep up with the steady publishing of literature and evolution of clinical practice, continuing education learning activities in this area are warranted.  And, as the CDC states: “for several reasons—including possible resurgence of disease, introduction of new vaccines, suboptimal immunization levels, cost-effectiveness, and gaps in sustainable immunization efforts—the need to focus on immunization rates remains crucial.”

Agenda

Introduction, Disclosures

Statistics

•          Immunization trends at a glance

•          Outbreaks

The challenge, key concepts, and solutions

•          Resurgence of disease

•          Risks associated with bioterrorism

•          Barriers to effective immunization

•          Introduction of new vaccines

•          Suboptimal immunization levels

•          Gaps in sustainable immunization efforts

•          Case studies in healthcare settings

Putting it all together: best practices, summary, and conclusions

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, and mid-level practitioners working in acute care hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by educational grants from Boehringer Ingelheim.

Release Date: June 30, 2014 -- Expiration Date: June 30, 2016

Faculty: Janet Dudley, PharmD

Agenda

Learning Objectives

Accreditation

Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI

Instructions

System Requirements