April 29, 2005

Phase two begins for pneumovaccine program

Phase two of the pneumococcal vaccine program will be rolled out in the Provider Order Entry (POE) system May 3. In this phase, a screen will display to the first health care provider — physician, resident, nurse practitioner or physicians assistant — signing on to write orders for the day, for patients age 65 years and older. The screen has a pre-selected order for the pneumococcal vaccine. The provider has the option of accepting the order, declining the order or deferring the decision for up to five days.

On the sixth day, a decision to accept or decline the order must be made. When the
vaccine is ordered, the nurse will further screen the patient for eligibility using the revised Pneumococcal Vaccination Screening and Administration Form. Upon discharge, a prompt in the POE system will appear on the discharge screen for the nurse to document if the vaccine was given or not given during this hospitalization. This documentation will carry over to the post hospital care plan, the patient care referral, the face sheet and in the discharge note. If the vaccine is given or declined because of prior vaccination or adverse reaction, the POE screen will not display on subsequent admissions.

For more information about this program, contact Janet Madigan MS, RN, at (617) 726-3109.