Thamer ALOhali
King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, KSA
Title: Improvement in diabetic patient immunization at the family medicine department
Biography
Biography: Thamer ALOhali
Abstract
Diabetic patients are immune-compromised patients and they are at high risk to be infected. Thus, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends Influenza, Pneumococcal, and Hepatitis B vaccines for all diabetic patients to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. Diabetic Patients in the Family Medicine Department at KFMC were not properly provided with the recommended immunizations according to the ADA guideline which affects patient satisfaction and well-being.
The project team has been organized to assess the problem and analyze its causes. During 2015, only about 10% of diabetic patients have been offered the recommended vaccines by their healthcare workers. There are many factors behind this. The most important factors are: Patient overload, lack of reminder, insufficient education about the importance of immunization, patient compliance and unavailability of a clear pathway. In order to ensure that all diabetic patients visiting the department have the chance to be educated and offered the vaccines, a design of pathway for improvement in Diabetic Patient Immunization has been created. The goal was to increase the proportion of diabetic patients who receive recommended immunizations based on the ADA guidelines from about 10% to 60% by December 2016. The compliance rate for Improvement in Diabetic Patient Immunization in overall reached about 60%. Starting by August 2016, using data registry, the average ranging for August 2016 was 36%, while 68% for the month of September 2016 and 60% for the month of October 2016 which reached our target compliance rate of 60% for the year 2016.