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P008: Division of Health Improvement/Health Certification Licensing and Oversight

P008: Percent of New Mexico's nursing home population who have received or who have been screened for influenza immunizations

Current Value

85%

2017

Definition

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Story Behind the Curve

  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy People 2020 national target for influenza vaccination rate in long term care and nursing homes is 90.0%.
  • Nursing home residents are vulnerable due to their health, medical status, age, and other factors. They are at high risk for severe symptoms and complications of influenza including hospitalization and death.
  • Residents who receive an immunization are less likely to get influenza or will have less severe symptoms. While the percentage of nursing home residents that currently receive the influenza vaccine is high, increasing it will further protect residents from complications of the flu. Getting a flu vaccination each season is the best way to protect yourself and your community from influenza. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that are expected to be most common during the upcoming flu season. By decreasing the number of nursing home residents that get the flu, the number of hospital admissions and treatment costs are lowered.
  • In FY17, 85% of residents received the influenza vaccine. Information is tracked through the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The Division of Health Improvement (DHI) is working toward better and more accurate use of theMDS records in nursing homes.
  • Tracking the number of residents that receive the vaccination improves NMDOH’s response to an influenza outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic. Surveyors investigate onsite to ensure residents are offered and/or administered influenza vaccination during annual surveys.

Partners

  • HealthInsight
  • New Mexico Health Care Association (NMHCA)
  • NMDOH Epidemiology and Response Division
  • NMDOH Public Health Division
  • Nursing homes
  • DHI surveyors

What Works

  • Emphasizing the importance of getting immunized, in partnership with the NMDOH Immunization Program.
  • Collecting, tracking, and analyzing data to identify trends and concerns.
  • Overseeing nursing home compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) immunization requirements.
  • Collaborate with the NMDOH Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Epidemiology and Response Division, and Public Health Division to identify and implement strategies to inform physicians on the importance of immunizations for nursing home residents.
  • Collaborate with NMDOH Epidemiology and Response Division, Public Health Division, HealthInsight, and the NMHCA to identify and implement strategies to support nursing homes to encourage residents to get immunized.
  • Cited deficiencies assist in compliance in offering and/or administration of influenza vaccination.

Strategy

  • Collaborate with NMDOH Epidemiology and Response Division, Public Health Division, HealthInsight, and the New Mexico Health Care Association to identify and implement strategies to support nursing homes to encourage residents to get immunized.
  • Direct communication with NMDOH facility administrators.

Action Plan

  • Q1:
    • DHI Director and NMDOH Secretary will send a letter to NMHCA emphasizing the need for nursing home resident immunization. Completed.
    • Meet with NMDOH Chief Medical Officer, Epidemiology and Response Division, and Public Health Division to identify and implement strategies to inform physicians on the importance of immunizations for nursing home residents. Completed.
  • Q2:
    • Continue to explore use of Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds to do education and outreach to increase vaccination. Completed.
    • Collaborate with HealthInsight on data tracking and continued vaccination education and outreach. Completed.
    • Issue a state-wide letter to all nursing homes encouraging them to have all residents and facility staff vaccinated for influenza. Completed.
    • Meet with HealthInsight and NMHCA to encourage residents and staff to get vaccinated against influenza, and discuss HealthInsight and facility tracking of influenza vaccinations. Completed.
    • Long Term Care surveyors will enforce regulations related to offering and/or providing influenza vaccinations to residents during the nursing home recertification annual surveys. Completed.
    • MDS Coordinator will continue to provide education and support to encourage accurate MDS coding related to immunizations. Completed.
  • Q3:
    • Report immunization data to Nursing Home Association at statewide meeting conference. Completed
    • Review and approve CMP project that supports increased immunization compliance. Completed. 
    • Long Term Care surveyors continue to enforce regulations related to offering and/or providing influenza vaccinations to residents during the recertification Nursing Home annual surveys. Completed.
    • Continue to provide education and support to encourage accurate MDS coding related to immunizations. Completed.
  • Q4:
    • Continue tracking and monitoring effectiveness of the action plan and reporting results to NMHCA and partners. Completed

FY18 Annual Progress Summary

  • To improve the immunization rates among long-term care residents, DHI collaborates with NMDOH Epidemiology Response Division, Public Health Division, HealthInsight NM, and the New Mexico Health Care Association. DHI monitors immunization data reported through the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and reports outcomes to stakeholders and professional trade organizations to identify and implement strategies to support nursing homes in encouraging residents to get immunized.
  • DHI was successful in recruiting a new Minimum Data Set coordinator.

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