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Reggi Veatch
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Delmarva Foundation Partnering with
Nursing Homes to Increase Immunization Rates for Seniors
Goal to Reduce Illnesses and Deaths This Flu Season

Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2005 - Delmarva Foundation, Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organization for the District of Columbia, recommends that seniors receive an influenza immunization this season.  The organization also advises families of nursing home residents in the District of Columbia to talk to the long-term care facility about influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for their loved ones. 

“As a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), we strive to help ensure that the right care is delivered to every person, every time in the District.  We have resources for nursing homes to help educate residents and their families about the importance of immunizations.  Influenza and invasive pneumoccocal disease, such as sepsis and meningitis, are unnecessary killers of the elderly, and increasing immunization rates in nursing homes will help reduce the risk of infection,” said Deneen Richmond, Executive Director of Delmarva Foundation in the District of Columbia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza vaccinations for people age 65 years old and over and for all persons in long-term care facilities.  However, a 1999 National Nursing Home Survey showed that only 65 percent of residents had documented influenza immunization and that 38 percent of residents had documented pneumococcal immunization According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pneumococcal disease kills thousands of people every year. Nearly 200 District residents died from the disease in 1999, and the CDC estimates that as many as 40,000 Americans die from pneumococcal disease each year.

To help improve immunization rates for the elderly, Medicare-certified nursing homes nationwide are subject to a new rule from Medicare, announced on October 7, 2005, which requires them to have policies and procedures in place to help increase the rate of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations.  Delmarva is under contract with Medicare to provide no-cost training and resources to improve the quality of care in nursing homes, as well as home health agencies, physician offices, and hospitals. 

“We want to ensure that every nursing home in Maryland is aware of these important new changes, which can help save lives.  We believe that these immunization practices can make a real difference in the health of our state’s nursing home residents and we will do everything we can to assist our partners in the long term care industry in implementing the new practices,” added Richmond.

The new Medicare rule requires nursing homes to:

• Ensure that, before being offered influenza or pneumococcal immunization, each resident and/or the resident’s legal representative receives education on the benefits and potential side effects of these immunizations.
• Offer all residents the specified immunizations unless medically contraindicated or unless the resident was already immunized during the time period identified – between October 1 and March 31, annually for influenza and once in a lifetime for the pneumococcal vaccine (which can be given at any time during the year). 
• Provide the resident or resident's legal representative the opportunity to refuse immunization.
• Document the resident’s medical record, including documentation that indicates each of the above-mentioned requirements has been met.

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About Delmarva Foundation
Delmarva Foundation is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality in over 20 states. Since 1973, Delmarva has assisted in improving care in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, medical practices and health plans. Delmarva performs quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization review, external quality review and Program Safeguard activities. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Easton, Maryland with other offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC; Columbia, South Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Tallahassee, Florida. For more information, please visit Delmarva Foundation on the web at www.delmarvafoundation.org.