Four ThedaCare clinics and the organization’s Advanced Practice Clinician Fellowship program were recently honored by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) for efforts to help protect children’s health and well-being through immunizations.
The DHS awarded its annual Wisconsin BigShot recognitions to select health care providers statewide for their efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis.
The BigShot program recognizes and honors providers who are leading the way in protecting children’s health by ensuring their pediatric patients are up to date on their routine childhood vaccinations, based on immunization data collected by the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.
“Childhood immunizations are a vital part of every child’s health care,” said Dr. Montgomery Elmer, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Primary Care for ThedaCare. “They can help protect kids from a number of serious, preventable illnesses. That’s why we’re passionate about advocating for immunizations as an effort to help keep our children safe.”
There are four categories of BigShot awards:
- Providers who have 90 percent or more of their patients vaccinated according to the recommended 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 schedule for 24-36 month-olds. The 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 childhood vaccine series consists of four DTaP, three Polio, one MMR, three Hib, three HepB, one Varicella, four PCV.
- Providers who have 80 percent or more of their adolescent patients between 13-17 years-old up to date on Tdap, Meningococcal and have completed the HPV series.
- Providers who have 95% or more of their patients who have at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age.
- Providers who have 95% or more of their patients who have 2 doses of MMR vaccine by 6 years of age.
These ThedaCare clinics and programs were recognized for their efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases:
One MMR Dose by 24 Months Category
- ThedaCare Physicians APC Fellowship
- ThedaCare Physicians-Black Creek
- ThedaCare Physicians-Green Lake
- ThedaCare Physicians-Ripon
- ThedaCare Physicians-Tigerton
Routine Childhood Vaccine Category
- ThedaCare Physicians APC Fellowship
- ThedaCare Physicians-Black Creek
Two Doses of MMR Vaccine by 6 Years Category
- ThedaCare Physicians APC Fellowship
“Increased vaccination rates can help reduce the overall spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses,” Dr. Elmer said. “Parents and guardians can trust the recommended vaccination schedule. If you have questions or doubts, contact your child’s health care provider. They are a reliable source for information about your child’s health and can answer a number of questions you might have about vaccines and when they should be given.”
Parents and guardians uncertain as to their child’s immunization status can verify by logging in to their child’s MyThedaCare account and selecting Immunizations or by visiting the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.
