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Newly Formed Infectious Diseases Advisory Council Issues Statement on Influenza Vaccination Rates

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 December 2007, 15:00 CST

The newly formed Council on Infectious Diseases Education (CIDE) identified that several key barriers exist for healthcare providers attempting to meet vaccination goals, particularly in patients at high risk, such as those with chronic illness, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. CIDE, comprised of a group of nationally recognized clinicians and researchers, was developed to identify and provide solutions to educational gaps and barriers in the area of infectious diseases.

"Several barriers prevent physicians from identifying high-risk persons such as a lack of experience with reminder systems, fragmentation of patient care caused by inadequate healthcare provider knowledge of current vaccination schedules and guidelines, insufficient patient database infrastructures, and hesitancy to administer vaccine after the onset of influenza activity." states John Bartlett, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and member of the newly formed council.

Seasonal influenza kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide each year, mostly older individuals. Despite annual vaccinations, the U.S. experiences a burden of influenza that results in approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year. Besides the human toll, influenza is responsible for a total annual healthcare expenditure of over $10 billion in the U.S. alone.

"There is a clear need for education that informs front-line healthcare professionals about the existing barriers and provides a plan of action by which vaccination rates can be improved and morbidity and mortality reduced, especially in high risk patients," added Dr. Bartlett.

The goal of the CIDE is to identify educational gaps and learning opportunities by sharing ideas and insights and translating them into effective educational solutions that will ultimately affect how patients are cared for. Members of the CIDE include: John G. Bartlett, MD, Trish M. Perl, MD, MSc, Tom Quinn, MD, Richard J Whitley, MD, Thomas R. Talbot, MD, MPH and Kristin Nichol, MD, MPH, MBA.

"A group of internationally recognized thought leaders working to identify educational needs and develop potential solutions goes a long way to ensure that medical education will be evidence based and relevant to the needs of the healthcare learner," states Dr. Venkat Gullapalli, CEO of Gullapalli and Associates (G&A) who developed the CIDE specifically to address educational needs and challenges in the area of Infectious Diseases.

About the Council on Infectious Disease Education:

Members of the Council on Infectious Diseases Education (CIDE) share information and expertise on all issues related to infectious disease, including education, patient care and outcomes. They provide insight into key issues and topics while identifying both educational and therapeutic unmet needs in the area of infectious diseases. Additionally, the CIDE serves as an advocate for education giving attention to its impact on a healthcare professional's knowledge, skill, behavior and clinical competence.

About Gullapalli & Associates, LLC:

Gullapalli & Associates (G&A) is a consulting firm specializing in facilitating strategic collaboration between key stakeholders in the medical education community. G&A facilitates the development of integrated educational initiatives through evidence based health education models, ensuring consistent educational strategy, goals, and objectives across multiple channels. G&A also identifies and manages a range of educational collaborative partners, channels, and resources to enhance the educational impact of the services provided.

Source: Business Wire

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