BOISE, Idaho, Sept. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to national research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than 67 percent of adults age 65 or older received their pneumonia vaccination in 2016. In Southeast Idaho, 57% of Medicare beneficiaries have never received a pneumonia vaccination, putting them at risk for serious illness and hospitalization.
To address this gap, Qualis Health and the Southeast Idaho Public Health District have partnered with Idaho State University, Portneuf Quality Alliance, Bingham Memorial Hospital, and other health care and community organizations to boost immunization rates. During September, an awareness campaign that includes radio, transit and social media will run in eight Southeast Idaho counties encouraging pneumonia vaccination. Additionally, an educational website has been developed that includes evidence-based interventions, immunization resources and campaign materials for pharmacies and primary care offices.
"Since adults aren't thinking about vaccines, we need all health care professionals to use every patient encounter as an opportunity to assess whether any vaccines are needed," Anne Schuchat, MD, Director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Qualis Health's Medical Director, Kelly McGrath, MD added, "pneumococcal disease is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. We need to work together to ensure good preventive care and that starts with getting vaccinated. It's an essential part of our dedication to improving the health of Idahoans."
For more information about vaccinations, visit https://www.siphidaho.org/comhealth/pneumonia.php.
To find out where to get vaccinated, visit vaccinefinder.org.
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About Qualis Health
Qualis Health is one of the nation's leading population healthcare consulting organizations, partnering with our clients to improve care for millions of people every day. We work with public and private sector clients to advance the quality, efficiency and value of healthcare.
In April 2018, Qualis Health and HealthInsight announced a formal merger, combining the two organizations and operations across the U.S. Both Qualis Health and HealthInsight have been engaged in healthcare quality consulting and providing quality improvement services for more than 40 years.
In Idaho, Qualis Health serves as the Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization (QIN–QIO) and the Quality Payment Program – Small and Underserved/Rural Support (QPP-SURS) contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
For more information, visit http://www.QualisHealth.org.
SOURCE Qualis Health
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