KAFP
Kansas lags behind other states in the rate of pneumococcal immunizations in seniors. The rate in 2016 was 59.2 percent, while the national average was 66.9 percent. There are 19 counties in Kansas where the rate is less than 40 percent.
KAFP was selected as one of three chapters of the AAFP to receive a grant to participate in efforts to increase pneumococcal immunization rates in the
Medicare population. Through a competitive application process KAFP selected eight Kansas clinics to participate in its Kansas Family Medicine Pneumococcal Immunization Office Champions (KFMPIOC) program. Congratulations to the following:
- Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Pittsburg
- Health Ministries Clinic Newton
- Heartland Healthcare Clinic Abilene
- KUMC – Landon Center on Aging Kansas City
- Montoya Family Practice Wichita
- Post Rock Family Medicine Plainville
- Rice Community Healthcare-Sterling (and Lyons) Medical Centers Sterling
- Stonecreek Family Physicians Manhattan
The goal of the program is to increase adult pneumococcal immunization rates in participating family physicians’ practices through a targeted Quality Improvement (QI) project. The project uses an Office Champion (OC) model to increase adult immunization rates, utilizing a framework of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations and National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Standards for Adult Immunization Practices.