Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Initiation in the Emergency Department [ID 1087]

INTRODUCTION: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 36,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection annually. Human papillomavirus vaccination rates remain below the national goal of 80%, with recent data showing only 57.3% of adolescents vaccinated. To increase vaccination rates, identifying alternative venues for vaccination has been encouraged. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients aged 11–45 years seen at Jefferson Einstein obstetrics and gynecology offices in 2023 revealed 439 HPV vaccination initiation encounters, representing a mere 3.82% of patients seen for non-obstetric visits. We propose that utilizing our busy urban emergency department (ED) as a novel venue for HPV vaccination will increase vaccination rates in the community. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, we have added HPV vaccines to our ED formulary and created a workflow for administration. RESULTS: Institutional review board approval and grant funding have been obtained to track HPV vaccination ICD codes and collect patient data for prospective analysis and interpretation of vaccine completion based on patient demographics, gender, and age. To date, we have administered a total of 25 vaccines to both female and male patients during their ED visits. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Our initiative introduces North Philadelphia to equitable vaccination access and simultaneously addresses an important health care disparity. If the ED proves to be a successful venue for educating patients on HPV and increasing HPV vaccination rates, our model can serve as an innovative framework for institutions across the nation to further mitigate health care disparities and prevent HPV-related disease.