Pediatric Community

 How are pediatric patients immunization status assessed in your facility and if they are found to be under-immunized, what is the process for rooming these patients? 

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Julie Cohen, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN
Pediatric Trauma Program Coordinator
Good Samaritan University Hospital
West Islip, NY
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Hi Julie,

We ask immunization questions in triage. We especially target Measles/MMR. It's not a perfect system as we can only rely on the information given by the caregiver. If patients are not immunized or under immunized and present with fever, we teach our triage RNs that these patients are higher acuity due to their high-risk status. But we do not have this outlined in any of our policies or guidelines. 

Thanks, 

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Ivelisse Sanchez, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-P, CPN, CPEN
CNS-APRN Coordinator, Pediatric Emergency Departments
Advocate Children's Hospital
Oak Lawn & Park Ridge, IL
email: ev_sanz@yahoo.com
email: ivelisse@ecsmediallc.com
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