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The Joint Commission is seeking examples of programs that have increased influenza immunization rates among healthcare personnel, it said in anticipation of an education and publicity push in mid-2009.

Vaccination of healthcare personnel against influenza remains low despite documented benefits on patient outcomes, lower staff absenteeism, and fewer infections among staff, it said in a news release.

In 2007, The Joint Commission implemented a new standard requiring hospitals and long-term care facilities to offer immunizations to staff and practitioners. But "Simply offering vaccination is not sufficient to increase immunization rates," said Jerod M. Loeb, PhD, who oversees quality measurement and research for The Joint Commission.

The publication it plans, funded in part by vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur, will cover the impact and prevalence of flu in the healthcare workplace, and promising practices and strategies to over barriers to healthcare staff immunization.

Successful programs may be submitted online by contacting Linda Kusek, associate project director, at 630-792-5616 or by e-mail: lkusek@jointcommission.org.

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