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Revisiting the VA Boston Flu Fighters

VA Secretary Bob McDonald receives a flu shot at VA Boston with staff members looking on.

VA Secretary Bob McDonald receives a flu shot from Denise Dulude, R.N., with Pallas Wahl, public affairs officer, and Vanessa Coronel, R.N., looking on.

By Vanessa Coronel, R.N., patient safety manager, VA Boston Healthcare System
Wednesday, April 8, 2015

For this flu season, the CDC announced that its strain of flu vaccine was about 23 percent effective compared to the usual 60 percent effectiveness of prior years. Coupled with a zero marketing budget, we were concerned that a lower percentage of employees would seek the flu vaccination.

Undaunted, the VA Boston “Flu Fighters” tackled the task of increasing employee flu vaccinations in a different way. This year, our multi-disciplinary team implemented three interventions to boost compliance rate among our 4,600 workers. Strategic interventions included: increasing the accessibility of the flu vaccine, implementing a self-reporting flu desktop icon, and using creative means to educate staff members about the importance of getting a shot.

Increasing the Accessibility of Flu Vaccines

We publicized flu clinic hours and used roving flu carts to reach employees.

The Flu Fighters were able to obtain the roving flu carts though collaboration with the behavioral medicine department, which applied for a public health grant.

We were also interested in creative ways to get employees invoved when using the carts; for instance, this past Halloween, costumed members of our team gave a treat to employees who volunteered to get the flu vaccine.  

R.N. Halloween surprise: Nurses roved the facility with their flu shot cart, offering employees shots.

R.N. Halloween surprise: Flu Fighters Sue Shannon, R.N., dressed as a ghost, and Denise Dulude, R.N., wearing a syringe headband, roved the hospital with their balloon-bedecked cart, offering flu shots – and a treat for employees willing to get one.

Implementing the Self-Reporting Flu Desktop Icon

Capturing flu shot data received outside the VA has proven to be very successful: Before last September, start of the flu season, our flu desktop icon had been uploaded to more than 4,500 work stations at our facility.

Employees were able to conveniently report to VA Boston that they received their flu shots outside the VA. So far, 450 employee reports have been captured by this innovative method. Last year, when the icon was first introduced, a total of 500 reports were captured, so it is proving more effective each year, as employees have gotten use to using it. 

Our public affairs department promoted the use of this icon through blast emails and Intranet articles, which really helped.

Other VAs have expressed interest in replicating and implementing this flu desktop icon reporting system in their facility.

The Flu Icon was loaded on employee desktops to report flu shots received outside the VA.

The Flu Icon was loaded on employee desktops to allow them to report flu shots received outside the VA.

Using Creative Means to Educate and Debunk Common Flu Myths

In collaboration with VA Central Office’s “Infection: Don’t Pass It On” flu program, VA Boston distributed flyers, posters and other promotional items to debunk flu myths.

Promotional items are free from this VA program (See note below). Handouts from CDC and screensavers featuring local employees were also used, with the goal of educating, then vaccinating.

Like last year, the VA Boston Flu Fighters used all resources available to achieve the maximum compliance rate.

How did the VA Boston flu Fighters do? As of March, our team reached a 60 percent compliance rate, just 11 percent shy of the goal to match last year’s success.

“Indeed, the VA Boston Flu Fighters are a force to be reckoned with and have commendable resilience, collaborative efforts and creativeness in increasing their flu vaccination compliance rate,” said VA Boston Healthcare Director Vincent Ng.

“They were even able to vaccinate VA Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald," he continued, "when he visited VA Boston for two days last year.”

For more information about strategies and innovations, please contact Vanessa Coronel at vanessa.coronel@va.gov

Note

VA employees can contact Troy.knighton@va.gov  (National Seasonal Flu and IDPIO Program Manager) for more information on receiving promotional and educational materials.

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