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Deborah Robbins, LCSW, Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508-856-2455, robbinsd@ummhc.org, Jesse Speckhard, BS, Maxtor Corporation, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, and Dianne S. Elfenbein, MD, Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655.
Ensuring up-to-date medical care for infants born to adolescent mothers is difficult because of the significant challeges these young women face in their own lives as well as other barriers to care. To address this challenge, the Teen Tot Connection, a federally funded medical care program for teen mothers and their babies, provides comprehensive care in a one-stop modality. An Excel spreadsheet was designed which allowed clinic staff to record services provided on a daily basis. This sheet was linked to another which incorporated code driven formulas that enables instantaneous calculation of date at which next immunization is due and highlights overdue immunizations. Overdue immunizations automatically appear in a contrasting color once their due date has passed, without requiring any additional data entry. At a glance, clinic staff can identify children with outstanding immunizations. Entry of visits and immunizations requires approximately one minute per patient and date of next required immunization becomes instantaneously available. A biweekly review of all 53 clients in the program can be done in approximately two minutes because of the clear format in which the information is presented. Minimal maintenance of the spreadsheet is required. The spreadsheet also acts to record each patient visit, allowing for administrative reporting of services delivered and communication among team members regarding medical problems encountered. Chart audit revealed 92% of infants up-to-date with immunizations at 12 months and 100% up-to-date at 24 months.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.