A randomized trial of the effect of centralized reminder/recall on immunizations and preventive care visits for adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a managed care-based patient reminder/recall system on immunization rates and preventive care visits among low-income adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial between December 2009 and December 2010 that assigned adolescents aged 11-17 years to one of three groups: mailed letter, telephone reminders, or control. Publicly insured youths (n = 4115) were identified in 37 participating primary care practices. The main outcome measures were immunization rates for routine vaccines (meningococcus, pertussis, HPV) and preventive visit rates at study end. RESULTS: Intervention and control groups were similar at baseline for demographics, immunization rates, and preventive visits. Among adolescents who were behind at the start, immunization rates at study end increased by 21% for mailed (P < .01 vs control), 17% for telephone (P < .05), and 13% for control groups. The proportion of adolescents with a preventive visit (within 12 months) was: mailed (65%; P < .01), telephone (63%; P < .05), and controls (59%). The number needed to treat for an additional fully vaccinated adolescent was 14 for mailed and 25 for telephone reminders; for an additional preventive visit, it was 17 and 29. The intervention cost $18.78 (mailed) or $16.68 (phone) per adolescent per year to deliver. The cost per additional adolescent fully vaccinated was $463.99 for mailed and $714.98 for telephone; the cost per additional adolescent receiving a preventive visit was $324.75 and $487.03. CONCLUSIONS: Managed care-based mail or telephone reminder/recall improved adolescent immunizations and preventive visits, with modest costs and modest impact.

Increasing inner-city adult influenza vaccination rates: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: In a population of seniors served by urban primary care centers, we evaluated the effect of the practice-based intervention on influenza immunization rates and disparities in vaccination rates by race/ethnicity and insurance status. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial during 2003-2004 tested patient tracking/recall/outreach and provider prompts on improving influenza immunization rates. Patients aged > or = 65 years in six large inner-city primary care practices were randomly allocated to study or control group. Influenza immunization coverage was measured prior to enrollment and on the end date. RESULTS: At study end, immunization rates were greater for the intervention group than for the control group (64% vs. 22%, p < 0.0001). When controlling for other factors, the intervention group was more than six times as likely to receive influenza vaccine. The intervention was effective across gender, race/ ethnicity, age, and insurance subgroups. Among the intervention group, 3.5% of African Americans and 3.2% of white people refused influenza immunization. CONCLUSIONS: Patient tracking/recall/outreach and provider prompts were intensive but successful approaches to increasing seasonal influenza immunization rates among this group of inner-city seniors.

Reduction in neonatal intensive care unit admission rates in a Medicaid managed care program.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intensive care unit admission rates are an important birth outcome indicator for Medicaid managed care organizations. OBJECTIVES: To reduce neonatal intensive care unit admission rates by at least 15% and to maintain that reduction through implementation of a quality improvement program. STUDY DESIGN: The organization performed a longitudinal population-based review of its birth outcomes from 1997 through 2003, focusing on neonatal intensive care unit admission rates. The return-on-investment evaluation reflected attributable incremental program costs and resultant savings. METHODS: Interventions included enhanced identification and stratification of high-risk women with the use of a health risk assessment form; outreach through nursing care coordination offering home visits, transportation, support services, social work services, and connection with other community-based organizations; and implementation of a strong informatics structure. RESULTS: Neonatal intensive care unit admission rates decreased from 107.6 per 1000 births in 1998 to 56.7 per 1000 births in 2003. The return on investment from the incremental program enhancements was just over dollars 2 per dollars 1 expended. CONCLUSION: A program that identifies its high-risk pregnant enrollees in a timely fashion, provides outreach using a strong nursing care coordination and social work emphasis, and has an enhanced informatics structure can significantly affect birth outcomes for a Medicaid managed care population.