Flu season is always a stressful time for the healthcare industry. Medical facilities face the responsibility of administering a flu vaccine, educating the public, and taking care of their staff and patients throughout the process. The influx of patients during this time adds extra strain to these facilities, making it harder to treat and control infections. It’s important to make a plan for how your facility is going to handle vaccine distribution and patient treatment this year. Get started with these three ways to prepare your medical practice for flu season.
Make Accessibility a Priority
One of the biggest challenges of flu season is distributing the vaccine to a majority of the population. There are many reasons why people skip the vaccine. Busy schedules and overwhelmed facilities can make it hard to get an appointment. Accessibility is the key to helping more people obtain the vaccine. Promote mass vaccine days where patients can make walk-in appointments or get the shot for free. Talk to patients during regular checkups and other appointments so that they can start making plans early. If you can’t always accommodate walk-in appointments, make scheduling more convenient by allowing patients to make appointments online or by phone.
Handle Vaccines Properly
Inventory management is one of the most important ways to prepare your medical practice for flu season. An organized inventory means your facility always has the necessary products to treat patients. Make your vaccine orders early to get a head start on vaccinations and appointments. Early ordering also means you can vaccinate your staff before the flu begins to spread through your facility. Additionally, train your staff on the best practices for vaccine handling so that you never lose or waste products.
Provide Community Education
A lack of education and communication can make the vaccine a low priority or turn people away from it entirely.Combat this attitude by providing the public with accessible information and resources regarding the flu and its vaccine. Spread knowledge about how the flu works, what the common symptoms are, and why the vaccine is a crucial part of stopping its spread. The more your patients know about the flu and its vaccine, the more likely they will be to make vaccination a priority.