Utilization management is the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of healthcare products in a cost-effective manner while maintaining quality of patient care and contributing to the organization's goals. (Spath, 2018). However, with bundled payments, healthcare homes, on-going payment options, and an unprecedented pandemic, resource utilization is imperative to maximize the health and well-being of the population. Vaccinations are the number one defense (and in the case of smallpox, the only defense) against preventable disease - yet there are thousands of parents against vaccination sites on the internet.

You are the manager of a Pediatric Health Clinic that recently implemented a mandatory flu vaccination policy. You have just received the following message from an employee in your department

Pharmaceutical companies are conspiracies supported by the government to develop vaccines to test the effect of chemicals and toxins on our children just to make money. Number one, a childs immune system is far too immature to handle those compounds and besides, natural immunity is far better and longer lasting. Second, I know childhood immunizations lead to autism because my cousins baby developed it right after his two-year shots. Ive heard all kinds of examples of the vaccination hurting people from broken off needles to severe allergic reactionsand many getting the flu from the shot. Not for me! Besides, it is my right to say what goes into my body as well as my childs, especially something thats ineffective and not based on any evidence and does more harm than good. After all, most those diseases, like polio and smallpox, have been eliminated so why should I take the risk? On the internet they talk about herd-immunity, what the heck is that? Besides, if all the other kids in school are vaccinated, then my child should be ok without going through the trauma of getting a shot. My family travels a lot, and we havent gotten ill; I read somewhere that exposure enhances the immune system. Its all a big hype and I resent people judging me for my decision not to vaccinate my children. Therefore, I want to refuse the shot

Leadership has directed all departments must attain 100% compliance, meaning every employee must be vaccinated by October 31^st. As the manager of the Health Information Technology department your job is to counsel this employee and influence them to be vaccinated by using the following resources:

1. evidence-based information gained from reliable internet websites like the CDC
2. this weeks assigned readings
3. define a detailed approach to how you might educate this employee
4. Note: You are at freedom to oppose mandatory vaccination; however, you must provide alternative evidence-based measures to protect patients.

Requirements

Initial post of 250-350 words in length is due by Thursday

Reply to at least two other students with prompts:

• "Something I might add...."
• "This is important because...."

Response of 100-150 words in length posted by Sunday.

Checklist for grading:

• 1. Evidence-based information is gathered.
  2. Counsel the employee with evidence-based education.
  3. Initial response submitted by Thursday and meets length requirement.
  4. Response made to at least 2 other students by Sunday.
  5. Responses made using prompts and meets length requirement.
  6. Initial post and replies are professional with few or no grammatical, spelling, or punctuation/capitalization errors. Proper APA citations and references are applied.