Flu season might feel far away, but in the world of healthcare, preparation starts early. In fact, in MEDENT, it starts every August 1st.
The Problem with Missed Flu Shots
Missing flu vaccinations isn’t just a health risk, it’s a system liability:
Higher patient risk of flu complications and hospitalizations
Lost quality measure points in value-based care initiatives
Missed billing opportunities from unadministered vaccines and related visit charges
Staff inefficiency and burnout from reactive outreach during flu peaks
Proactive monitoring and automated follow-up are essential to both patient safety and practice performance.
MEDENT’s Steps to Stay Ahead
Now that we know why it’s important to be proactive, let’s take a look at the how you can stay ahead.
Step 1: Identify Who’s Due
Every August 1st, MEDENT’s Due for Imm Influenza This Season structured DM/HM report updates for the new flu season. It automatically finds patients 6 months and older who have not received or refused an influenza shot during the current season.
Early identification allows you to act before the season peaks, reducing missed opportunities.
Pro Tip:
Run the DM/HM report regularly throughout flu season to keep your outreach list fresh and accurate.
Step 2: Code It Correctly
Accurate coding ensures your flu shots are properly documented and billed, which means you get paid promptly and can track compliance rates accurately.
In MEDENT, you’ll want to:
Reactivate Your CPT Code
Add Related Admin Codes
Link Codes to the Proper Series
Set Your NDC Codes
Set Your Lot Numbers
Overwhelmed? We’ve got step-by-step instructions to help you.
📄 Resource:
Step 3: Troubleshoot Common Issues
Even with proper setup, issues can arise. We’ve got guides to help you address common problems like:
Missing CPT Codes in eBill
Duplicate Immunization Records or eBills
NDC Not Sending on Claim
Uncertainty About Patient’s Immunization History
📄 Resource:
Step 4: Track & Follow-Up
Tracking who has and hasn’t gotten a flu shot is essential for internal quality metrics, but it’s also an opportunity for outreach.
Remember that structured DM/HM report? You can use it to generate DM/Broadcast Reminders for patients who are due for their flu vaccine.
Here’s how the interface works:
1. Enable DM Reminders & Choose Your Channels. The interface allows you to send a call, text, email, or any combination therein to each patient on the report. When the report is run, the reminders will send automatically based on the patient’s most preferred preference in their HIPAA.
2. Schedule & Customize. Pick when these reminders should go out and tailor the message for each channel. You can also create exceptions to exclude certain patients from receiving reminders.
3. Run the DM/HM Report with Directlink. Once you’ve set up the interface, running the report will automatically create a todo/triage for each patient while generating a broadcast message for any patient that does not meet an exception reason.
The Bottom Line
Flu season success isn’t about luck, it’s about having the right systems in place.
With MEDENT’s DM/HM reporting, coding support, tracking tools and Directlink broadcast reminders, you can increase vaccination rates, improve patient health outcomes and reduce seasonal workload stress.
🧠 Think About It:
What’s your plan for flu season this year?
