Closing the Gap - Achieving coverage rate increases.pptVIP

Closing the Gap Achieving coverage rate increases Our destinations How the itinerary was chosen Grantees with greatest absolute % increase in coverage levels from 2001 to 2004 NIS were defined as “most improved” and received awards at NIC 2006 Visited all 7 awardees between September and November 2006 Study Objectives Meet with key staff and external partners Identify program characteristics and interventions that led to increased childhood immunization coverage levels Find common themes and share information with all grantees What we heard…  What we heard… Starting at the top Leadership is everything Identify trusted immunization leaders to continually promote importance of vaccination: – Political (governor, mayor, congress member, secretary of health, etc) – Medical provider (AAP member, local respected private physician) The importance of “culture” Know your community Understand local attitudes and values – Public health – Medical practice – Community Ah, relationships… Reach out and partner: – WIC practices – Private practices – AAP/AAFP – Hospitals – MCOs – Universities – Schools/daycares – Parent groups – Media reps. – Pharm. reps Build a coalition that extends access into your communities Raising provider awareness Evaluate your VFC and AFIX programs – What is working? What could be better? Use VFC and/or AFIX visits to develop relationships with private practices Take all opportunities to educate Be a resource, not a regulator Be accessible and responsive Data, data, data Understand it Improve it Collect it Use it Share it What’s passion got to do with it? Devotion to the cause Like who? – Internal staff at all levels – External partners: Coalition leaders, local practitioners, organizations, and service clubs (Kiwanis, Rotary) You can’t teach passion, but you can find it in your community Maintaining visibility Through…… – Good leadership – Understandi