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A Test of the Feasibility of Pneumococcal Vaccination in the Emergency Department

  1. David Slobodkin MD, MPH1,*,
  2. Jennifer L. Kitlas MPH2,
  3. Paul G. Zielske RN, MBA3

Article first published online: 28 JUN 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.1999.tb00443.x

Issue

Academic Emergency Medicine

Academic Emergency Medicine

Volume 6, Issue 7, pages 724–727, July 1999

Additional Information

How to Cite

Slobodkin, D., Kitlas, J. L. and Zielske, P. G. (1999), A Test of the Feasibility of Pneumococcal Vaccination in the Emergency Department. Academic Emergency Medicine, 6: 724–727. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.1999.tb00443.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Cook County Hospital Chicago, IL

  2. 2

    Rush University Department of Emergency Medicine Chicago, IL

  3. 3

    University of Illinois School of Public Health, Chicago, IL.

***School of Public Health-East Building, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2035 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612. e-mail: davids@uic.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 JUN 2008
  2. Article first published online: 28 JUN 2008
  3. Received August 17, 1998; Received Revised November 16, 1998; Received Revised February 2, 1999; Accepted February 10, 1999

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Keywords:

  • pneumococcus;
  • immunization;
  • emergency medicine;
  • health services accessibility;
  • primary prevention;
  • urban population

Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. References

Abstract. Objective: To test the feasibility of pneumococcal immunization in an ED. Methods: Cook County Hospital has an annual ED census of 120,000. Patients are 75% black and 15% Hispanic. Eighty-two percent of patients are uninsured. Seventy-three percent report no primary physician. Between May 27, 1997, and July 26, 1997, nurses had standing orders that patients meeting CDC-recommended criteria were to be offered pneumococcal immunization. Immunization was recorded in the system-wide registration computer. Results: During the study period, 1,833 patient screenings encounters (13% of all patients) identified 1,493 high-risk patients. Only 10% of screened high-risk patients reported previous pneumococcal immunization. 1,173 were immunized against pneumococcus. Median number of immunizations per nurse per shift was 1.62. Patient throughput was not altered. Conclusion: Pneumococcal immunization is both necessary and feasible in a busy ED serving patients with little access to other immunization services.

References

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. References
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