Connecting Group Care Patients to Mental Health and Food Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, patient visits and pediatric vaccination rates dropped across the country. This was evidenced by the fact that Vaccines for Children (VFC) vaccine orders for children less than two years old decreased significantly less than those older than two years old1. Nationwide there was a 25% decrease in vaccinations for patients less than two years old2. Due to the decrease, there was a focus nationwide on children less than two years old to maintain vaccination rates.
Denver Health, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center in the Denver, CO also experienced a decrease in vaccinations, however we only experienced a 6% decrease in the number of Pediarix vaccines administered when comparing March-May 2019 to March-May 2020 and a 14% decrease in patient visits for ages birth to two years old. While our success was likely multifactorial, a contributor to our ability to get infants and toddlers seen at our clinics was the support of the group care team. The article titled “Connection Group Care Patients to Mental Health and Food Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic” focused on a group of patients at a Denver Health Clinic. The patients who participated in group care had built relationships with the team prior to the pandemic and trusted them. When the team recommended that the children come in for vaccinations and reassured them that it was safe to come to the clinic, these families listened and came in for medical care. It seems that outreach from a trusted team, such as group care team members, effectively encouraged patients to bring their children for routine medical care.
A team who can outreach to patients and patient families to continue receiving preventative care and immunizations can be an asset to any health care organization. The multi-cultural and bilingual team in the above stated article prior to the pandemic were typically recruiting for group care visits, providing patient care, and facilitating in group care visits. In the time of strict social distancing, group care visits were not able to be completed and therefore allowed more time for this team to outreach to patients to get them in for individualized care. In order to complete this work, an organization would need to ensure that team members have dedicated time to outreach patients. Finding time or personnel who can complete these tasks may difficult, however this article has shown that this can is valuable and can increase continuity of patient care and completion of early childhood vaccinations.
References:
1. Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Pediatric Vaccine Ordering and Administration — United States, 2020 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
2. Pediatric Vaccination During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org)
About the Authors:
Jessica Jack is a pediatrician and Susana Peralta is a family medicine physician. Both Jessica and Susana work at Denver Health at the Montbello Family Health Center.