Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to implement an evidence-based missed opportunities tool kit within a rural health clinic to administer the HPV vaccine to eligible adolescents over a 12-week period to meet the Accountable Care Organization standards.|Background: Despite the HPV vaccination’s proven efficacy, the rate of HPV vaccination in adolescents nationally (48.6), regionally (44.2), and locally in Nebraska (58.3) is far below the Healthy People 2030 immunization goal of 80% (Healthy People 2030, 2020). The clinic rate of 12.38% is below the accountable care organization’s (ACO) adolescent vaccination goals. Missed opportunities for vaccination occur when patients are not screened for the HPV vaccination series completion or being offered HPV vaccination at acute visits.|Sample/Setting: Adolescents aged 9-18 years being seen by a provider in a rural Midwest primary care clinic.|Methods: Developed and implemented an HPV vaccination missed opportunities tool kit and
paper-based clinical systems change. The tool kit provided educational materials for both staff
and patients.|Results: The target population included 61 patients aged 9-18 years. Nearly 48% of this population was eligible to receive their first or subsequent dose of the HPV vaccine. Of the 48%, 27.6% received a dose during their visit and 72% refused or were missed opportunities for the HPV vaccination. The clinic showed an improvement of adolescent HPV vaccination rates of 14.81%.|Conclusion: Increasing the rate of HPV vaccinations is key to reaching herd immunity and decreasing cancers caused by HPV infections. Screening all adolescent patients at acute care visits and providing education to families can result in increased HPV vaccination rates.