Calculating a Clinic's Childhood Immunization RateCosts and Returns
Ronald W. Chapman, MD, MPH;
Trevor W. Hacker, MD
Arch Fam Med. 1995;4(7):625-627.
Abstract
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Objective
To analyze the cost of determining the pediatric immunization rate of a family practice clinic.
Design
Medical records audit and cost analysis.
Setting
A family medicine residency training clinic.
Patients/Participants
All clinic patients aged 2 months to 2 years, totaling 282 medical records.
Main Outcome Measures
Cost and hours needed to complete the project, pediatric immunization rate, and barriers to pediatric immunizations.
Results
The total project cost was $1320.25. Sixtynine percent of the study group was up-to-date on immunizations. Additional patients were found to have received immunizations from the local health department, which increased the immunization rate to 73.4%. The immunization rate declined significantly with age. The highest rate was 83% for children between the ages of 2 and 3 months. Immunization barriers included parental refusal, missed appointments, and inappropriate withholding of vaccinations. Only 13 records clearly documented why the child was behind on immunizations.
Conclusions
Calculating a family practice clinic's immunization rate can be easy and has modest costs. The return is an awareness of immunization barriers and the potential to increase the childhood immunization rate.
Author Affiliations
From the Shasta-Cascade Family Practice Residency, University of California, Davis.
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