Important:
Health Department Administrators!!
Your work immunizing Kansas' children is greatly appreciated! |
|
Director
Greta McFarland, MD
Trainers
Greta McFarland, MD
Stuart Shanker, MD
Debra Kinnane, MD
Jared Johnson, MD
Staff
Leslie Sherman |
MOBI-KS-Helping to Immunize Kansas Kids |
MOBI's mission is to raise the overall immunization rate among Kansas' 2-year-old children to 90% or greater by suggesting ways to improve existing office policies and practice. Participation in MOBI allows the following:
**free of charge to all Kansas health care providers
**free resource materials, including a copy fo CDC's "Pink Book"
**CEU hours for medical and nursing providers
**$1,000 grant funding available |
Want to participate in a MOBI-KS presentation?
Contact Leslie Sherman at
or visit us online at
|
|
 |
|
Greetings and welcome to the first issue of the MOBI-KS Quarterly Newsletter! The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you up-to-date on the changes of immunizations. We would also love to share success stories! Feel free to forward on |
|
MOBI Champions! Fighting the fight to keep our kids healthy! |
This newsletter is for all who have gone through the MOBI-KS training and received their grant funds. Immunizations are not a one-time event for the child. Likewise, giving immunizations requires on-going perserverance, to be sure it is done properly every time. This newsletter is a reminder of the basic principles championed in the MOBI-KS training, and to share with each other any "tricks of the trade".
Want to share? Comment here! |
 MOBI-KS Champion Highlight! Preferred Pediatrics, a pediatric practice in
Overland Park, KS has been a MOBI-KS practice since 2007. Dr. Shanker has been an instructor since then as well. When asked about the MOBI Best Practice #6, Avoid "missed opportunities" to give vaccinations, Dr. Shanker gave the following response; "Our office uses this Best Practice to help keep patients' immunizations up-to-date. We also use the Kansas immunization registry (WebIZ) in our office and give the patients a copy of their form off the registry to have for their home use. We routinely check this by having our receptionist look up each patient visit for updated immunizations that the patient may have had in the state but not at our office. Our receptionist will also put in the immunizations that we have given in our office to the web site and that way we stay current. We also do VFC (Vaccines for Children) and keep up with the state requirements via the computer updates that are provided through the program". |
|
Disease of the Issue: Polio-Why we do what we do! |
Polio is one of the most devastating diseases for which we have immunizations. Endemic polio was observed for thousands of years, but polio epidemics became more notable in the 20th century, in the summer months and in populated areas with shared water venues, like swimming pools. The polio virus enters the CNS, infecting and destroying the motor neurons in the long spinal tracts. (Remember your neuroanatomy?) This leads to muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis. Spinal polio is the most common with extremity muscles involved, but cranial nerves can be affected as well, leading to bulbar polio. Involvement can reach as high as the brain stem, causing apnea. (Remember those pictures of iron lungs?) Most of us have never witnessed this devastating disease......thanks to vaccination!
This is why we do what we do!  |
|
Best Practices - Just a Reminder! |
|
1. Have a designated individual as your go-to person in your office. Most practices find it is helpful to have at least one person who is familiar with the resources such as the Pink Book, web sites like immunize.org, and to know the County Health nurses who work with immunizations, as well as how to contact KDHE.
2. Periodically utilize an immunization screening tool, such as an AFIX.
A=Assessment
F=Feedback
I=Incentive
X=Exchange
3. Consider being a (VFC) Vaccines for Children provider, if you are not already.
4. Develop a written plan for vaccine storage.
5. Provide a current Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) to parents for every vaccination at every visit.
6. Avoid "missed opportunities", to give vaccinations.
7. Vaccine Administration Issues....giving vaccines and documentation.
8. Use a reminder/recall system.
9. Stay current on vaccination issues. |
|
|
Hot Topic - Flu Vaccinations |
Flu Vaccination "season" is in full swing. For full information on influenza vaccine administration, go to the web sites listed below.
Indications for giving the flu vaccine include:
1. Flu vaccine is recommended for all kids 6 months and up who do not have contraindicating conditions. The flu vaccine can be suggested at MOST office visits for those over 6 months! Consider making it a routine question during the next several months. The flu vaccine can be given until it outdates, which is usually into May.
2. Vaccinations are recommended 4 weeks apart for those 6 months through 8 years who have never received 2 flu vaccinations in a prior influenza season, or if there is uncertainty they received at least 2 doses of influenza vaccine since July 2010.
3. Nasal sprays are allowed for those 2 through 49 years (except for 2-4 year olds with history of recurent wheezing or recent wheezing episode).
4. The vaccines and dosages vary for age: be sure everyone who gives, knows what your clinic offers! |
|
|
