Description of the Problem: Vaccine preventable diseases present a serious health burden in the U.S., resulting in more than 55,000 cases, 120 deaths, and $100 million in direct medical care costs each year. The immunization rate for children less than two years old in Los Angeles County is 59.9 percent. Inadequate immunizations coupled with homelessness could prove to be a fatal combination for children at risk. Long-term homelessness, hunger, inadequate nutrition and dehydration place improperly immunized homeless children at increased risk for prolonged recovery from vaccine preventable diseases.
Objective of Innovation: Increase the percentage of homeless two year olds in Los Angeles' "Skid Row" area who complete immunizations as recommended by the CDC.
Description of the Innovation: Upon entrance into a homeless shelter, Public Health Nurses (PHN'S) would obtain as much locating information as possible from parents. PHN's would educate parents on the importance of immunizations and possible consequences of not completing immunizations as scheduled. Upon leaving the shelter, families would be tracked by the PHN close to the time for the child's next scheduled immunizations. Incentives would be provided to families after completion of immunizations to increase compliance.
Significance of Innovation:Improving access to immunizations would introduce homeless families to other preventive health care services and instill trust in the system. This would increase utilization of free clinics and most likely decrease the use of hospital emergency rooms for primary health care, saving millions of tax dollars annually.
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Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to (1)Identify three benefits of aggressive tracking of homeless children in completing immunizations; (2)describe two health complications that may arise when homeless children are not properly immunized; (3)recognize the importance of completion of immunizations of homeless children two years and younger.
Keywords: Homeless Health Care,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.