Design and implementation of a combined influenza immunization and tuberculosis screening campaign with simulation modelling

• Published in: Journal of evaluation in clinical practice Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 727 - 734
• Main Authors: Heim, Joseph A., Huang, Hao, Zabinsky, Zelda B., Dickerson, Jane, Wellner, Monica, Astion, Michael, Cruz, Doris, Vincent, Jeanne, Jack, Rhona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2015
• Subjects: clinical guidelines; Computer Simulation; Decision Making; health care; Health Services Research; Humans; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Mass Screening - methods; Program Development; Quality Improvement; Tuberculosis - prevention & control; Washington; Washington; clinical guidelines; health services research; health care
• ISSN: 1356-1294; 1365-2753
• DOI: 10.1111/jep.12377

Rationale, aims and objectives Design and implement a concurrent campaign of influenza immunization and tuberculosis (TB) screening for health care workers (HCWs) that can reduce the number of clinic visits for each HCW. Method A discrete‐event simulation model was developed to support issues of resource allocation decisions in planning and operations phases. Results The campaign was compressed to100 days in 2010 and further compressed to 75 days in 2012 and 2013. With more than 5000 HCW arrivals in 2011, 2012 and 2013, the 14‐day goal of TB results was achieved for each year and reduced to about 4 days in 2012 and 2013. Conclusion Implementing a concurrent campaign allows less number of visiting clinics and the compressing of campaign length allows earlier immunization. The support of simulation modelling can provide useful evaluations of different configurations.