LMonty
Advisory Board, Administrator, In Memoriam
Prehospital Emergency Care
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Health Sciences, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
Issue: Volume 7, Number 1 / January-March 2003
Pages: 74 - 78
URL: Linking Options
DOI: 10.1080/10903120390937139
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.c...al,16,28;linkingpublicationresults,1:112492,1
Vince N. Mosesso Jr., MD A1, C. Richard Packer MS, NREMT-P A1, Joan McMahon RN, MPH A1, Thomas E. Auble PhD A1, Paul M. Paris MD A1
A1 Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (VNM, TEA, PMP), the UPMC Health System (CRP), and the Allegheny County Health Department (JM), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abstract:
Objective. Emergency medical services (EMS) agencies may be an underutilized resource for provision of preventive health services. This study sought to demonstrate the feasibility for EMS agencies to provide influenza immunizations. Methods. This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted with urban, suburban, and rural EMS agencies that volunteered to participate. EMS managers and paramedics attended an orientation program, and then developed and implemented recruitment strategies. Adult volunteer subjects who met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for influenza vaccination were enrolled. Paramedics obtained informed consent, determined subject eligibility, administered the vaccine, and observed each subject for 10 minutes. Paramedics, EMS managers, and subjects completed surveys; EMS managers reported costs and resource utilization. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results. Ninety paramedics from 15 EMS agencies in three counties participated. Subjects were recruited by print and broadcast media and enrolled at 73 events held at retail establishments, community events, EMS stations, churches, senior citizen complexes, and private residences. Of the 2,075 adults immunized, 1,014 (49%) did not receive influenza vaccination in the previous year. Seven hundred five (34%) reported that they probably would not have been vaccinated elsewhere. Fixed cost for each immunization was $3.42. The EMS managers estimated their variable costs to range from zero dollars (volunteer agencies with all donated expenses) to $15.31 per immunization. No adverse events were reported. Subjects, paramedics, and EMS managers indicated a high level of satisfaction with the project. Conclusion. The MEDICVAX Project demonstrated the feasibility of EMS agencies to safely provide influenza immunizations. The project reached some adults who likely would not have been immunized.
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Health Sciences, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
Issue: Volume 7, Number 1 / January-March 2003
Pages: 74 - 78
URL: Linking Options
DOI: 10.1080/10903120390937139
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.c...al,16,28;linkingpublicationresults,1:112492,1
Vince N. Mosesso Jr., MD A1, C. Richard Packer MS, NREMT-P A1, Joan McMahon RN, MPH A1, Thomas E. Auble PhD A1, Paul M. Paris MD A1
A1 Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (VNM, TEA, PMP), the UPMC Health System (CRP), and the Allegheny County Health Department (JM), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abstract:
Objective. Emergency medical services (EMS) agencies may be an underutilized resource for provision of preventive health services. This study sought to demonstrate the feasibility for EMS agencies to provide influenza immunizations. Methods. This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted with urban, suburban, and rural EMS agencies that volunteered to participate. EMS managers and paramedics attended an orientation program, and then developed and implemented recruitment strategies. Adult volunteer subjects who met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for influenza vaccination were enrolled. Paramedics obtained informed consent, determined subject eligibility, administered the vaccine, and observed each subject for 10 minutes. Paramedics, EMS managers, and subjects completed surveys; EMS managers reported costs and resource utilization. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results. Ninety paramedics from 15 EMS agencies in three counties participated. Subjects were recruited by print and broadcast media and enrolled at 73 events held at retail establishments, community events, EMS stations, churches, senior citizen complexes, and private residences. Of the 2,075 adults immunized, 1,014 (49%) did not receive influenza vaccination in the previous year. Seven hundred five (34%) reported that they probably would not have been vaccinated elsewhere. Fixed cost for each immunization was $3.42. The EMS managers estimated their variable costs to range from zero dollars (volunteer agencies with all donated expenses) to $15.31 per immunization. No adverse events were reported. Subjects, paramedics, and EMS managers indicated a high level of satisfaction with the project. Conclusion. The MEDICVAX Project demonstrated the feasibility of EMS agencies to safely provide influenza immunizations. The project reached some adults who likely would not have been immunized.
I need to get back to my search. I was just so excited about this,and wanted to get it out there just in case there are readers that might find it helpful for their local plans. This is just the abstract, the full article is available ($) at the link.'