Cover Kidney News
Volume/Issue:
Volume 14: Issue 10/11
Page:
61
Publication Date:
01 Oct 2022
Online Publication Date:
01 Oct 2022
Figure 1

Adult Immunization Project society participants
Figure 2

Adult Immunization Project summary
Figure 3

Adult Immunization Project scope

ASN Joins Medical Specialty Societies in Focus on Adult Immunization

Rebecca Schmidt Rebecca Schmidt, DO, FASN, is assistant dean of Outreach and Community Engagement and vice chair, Rural Outreach and Service to the State for the Department of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown. Shane B. Perry, BS, is the ASN Adult Immunization Project Manager.

Search for other papers by Rebecca Schmidt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
Shane B. Perry Rebecca Schmidt, DO, FASN, is assistant dean of Outreach and Community Engagement and vice chair, Rural Outreach and Service to the State for the Department of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown. Shane B. Perry, BS, is the ASN Adult Immunization Project Manager.

Search for other papers by Shane B. Perry in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Volume/Issue:
Volume 14: Issue 10/11
Publication Date:
01 Oct 2022
Page:
61
Full access

ASN is partnering with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Adult Immunization Project (AIP). ASN is one of seven medical specialty societies participating in the project. (A full list of society project participants can be found in Figure 1.)

Figure 1
Figure 1

Adult Immunization Project society participants

Citation: Kidney News 14, 10/11

There are several goals of the AIP, including improving the adoption of CDC's Standards for Adult Immunization Practice (SAIP) in nephrology and increasing immunization rates of COVID-19, influenza, and routine vaccinations among patients with kidney diseases. (A full list of all project goals can be found in Figure 2.)

Figure 2
Figure 2

Adult Immunization Project summary

Citation: Kidney News 14, 10/11

The project started in the fall of 2021 and will continue through September 2026. In September 2023, ASN will partner with seven dialysis corporations and engage with at least 14 dialysis facilities from across the United States.

ASN identified the following vaccine types as having the best opportunity to improve safety within the kidney community and will consider other routine immunizations recommended by the AIP Task Force:

  • COVID-19

  • Influenza

  • Pneumococcal

  • Hepatitis B

  • Shingles

As partnering societies, corporations, and facilities begin this project, the focus will be on increasing COVID-19 and influenza immunization rates. In 2024, the scope will expand to include other immunizations (Figure 3). ASN identified six strategies to achieve the goals of this project:

Figure 3
Figure 3

Adult Immunization Project scope

Citation: Kidney News 14, 10/11

Leadership

ASN seated an AIP Task Force to provide strategic guidance for this project. The task force is composed of nephrology leaders, immunization experts, and health equity champions. Membership on the ASN AIP Task Force will expand to include representatives from dialysis corporations participating in the project. The current membership of the ASN AIP Task Force includes:

  • Rebecca Schmidt, DO, FASN, West Virginia University, Chair

  • Shuchi Anand, MD, Stanford University

  • Marshia Coe, RN, Health Systems Management

  • Junichi Ishigami, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Additional members with diverse expertise in the care of people with kidney diseases will be recruited to join the task force.

Engagement

ASN will host quarterly Learning and Action Network (LAN) sessions with the staff of participating dialysis facilities and corporations. The AIP LAN will follow the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model. The purpose of the LAN is to promote the sharing of challenges, knowledge, resources, and strategies to facilitate iterative process changes and achieve improved outcomes.

Resource Library

ASN curated a compendium of currently available materials, events, and news on the AIP webpage (https://epc.asn-online.org/projects/aip/). Additional materials will be developed and posted to meet the educational and resource needs of kidney patients and professionals.

On-Demand Learning

ASN will create kidney patient-focused quality education and “train-the-trainer” materials for professionals who meet the language, accessibility, and adult-learner expectations in a module-based learning management system.

Continuous Quality Improvement

ASN will adapt the Assessment, Feedback, Incentive, and eXchange (AFIX) approach for continuous quality improvement. This approach was developed by the CDC to support improvements in vaccination data collection, results/reporting, policy adoption, and communications for professionals and patients.

Spread

ASN will contribute to dialysis facility initiatives, staff training, and patient education through immunization-focused messaging, activities, and engagement. Change champions and early adopters will be identified, and best practices will be communicated broadly throughout ASN. Learning modules will be shared to support and sustain growth in immunization practice improvements and vaccine acceptance.

ASN is excited to share the AIP with you. If you have any questions or suggestions for potential quality improvement interventions or immunization resources for kidney patients and professionals, feel free to contact Shane Perry, AIP manager, at sperry@asn-online.org.

Save