Our team at Metropolitan Pediatrics was honored to be named this week as an Oregon Healthcare Innovator by Portland Business Journal for our special vaccine clinics supporting children who are neurodivergent and have challenges with sensory processing.
Some kids have extra anxiety about getting vaccinations or other procedures, which can lead to a lifetime of medical care avoidance. Their parents also experience anxiety in anticipation of their child struggling with the experience, which might lead to aversion to scheduling the vaccine appointment.
Sensory-Friendly Vaccine Clinics
To reduce the stress for this population group and increase compliance with vaccine schedules, our management team developed the Metro Pediatrics Sensory-Friendly Vaccine Clinics. They offer a special “comfort promise” experience with a host of options that make shots less scary, including sensory-supportive lighting, music and noise cancellation, and other distracting items.
This increased access to specialized care for neurodiverse patients leads to a better relationship between the patient/family and the healthcare industry, and better long-term health outcome for the patient. It also helps ensure greater community disease control and improved health outcomes for the general population.
With the success of the program, we’ve expanded our partnership to include the Autism Society of Oregon and their Vaccine Education Initiative.
If your child is anxious about getting vaccines, please read about Metro’s Comfort Promise menu, and the ways we help during immunizations to keep them happy and healthy.
