August is National Immunization Awareness Month—just in time because kids are getting ready to head back to school

Vaccine administration is usually regarded as a simple office procedure, often performed without the direct supervision of the physician or a licensed professional. Although vaccinations are a routine procedure, physicians and staff should remain vigilant about patient safety considerations.

Whether you are seeing children for back-to-school immunizations or adults for travel abroad or general disease prevention, take time now to assess the vaccine administration protocol in your practice.

As with any medical intervention, the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the vaccination must be discussed and documented in the medical record, as well as ensuring that safety protocols are followed.

Could this happen in your office?

The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, performed a closed claims analysis of vaccine-related events in the medical office setting. Could similar situations occur in your office?

Read the full article here, to learn how to reduce risks in your office.