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Automated reminders for Tdap drastically improve vaccination rates

Primary care clinics that had electronic reminders in place for administration of Tdap booster vaccination had triple the vaccination rates, compared with clinics not using reminders, according to recently published data. 

“We found that when boosters were administered and documented automatically, as a routine part of care, this dramatically changed and improved preventive care services. These types of changes may potentially also help improve outcomes for other health initiatives, including preventive care, disease screening and chronic disease management,” Cameron G. Shultz, PhD, MSW, department of family medicine, University of Michigan, said in a press release.

Cameron G. Shultz

To assess the effectiveness of automated reminders for vaccination, Shultz and colleagues analyzed immunization rates from five clinics using automated system reminders for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis booster vaccinations, and compared rates with four clinics not using immunization reminders. Patients (n = 3,278) from both clinics ranged in age from 11 to 64 years. 

Results demonstrated that from 2008 to 2011, vaccination rates increased from 15.5% to 47.3% in clinics using system reminders, compared with control clinics, whose rates increased from 14.1% to 30.2%.

Over the 3-year study period, clinics using system reminders consistently saw higher Tdap immunization rates, compared with control clinics. 

Shultz and colleagues believe that having enhanced what health care providers already know, rather than dictating or intruding on how to care for patients, is what made their automated reminder systems successful in practice.

“Today’s primary care environment requires managing complex immunization schedules and meeting the growing demands of caring for a large and often sick patient population,” Shultz said in the release. 

Grant M. Greenberg

“This research shows how technology can be used to dramatically change the way preventive services are delivered and improve preventative health care,” study co-author Grant M. Greenberg, MD, MHSA, MA, assistant professor, department of family medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, said in a press release. – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.