Talking with Patient’s about the COVID -19 Vaccination
Date: February 19, 2021
Attention: All Providers
Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event. TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.
Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) strongly encourages network providers to engage in conversation with our members on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Here are some suggestions from the American Medical Association to help you prepare for these conversations:
Understand your patients’ concerns
Ask why a patient is hesitant
Counter any misinformation
Know you are the most trusted information source
Tell patients they need to get the vaccine
Tailor your message
Address patients’ fears about side effects
Prepare your staff to answer questions
Show your vaccination pride
Tell stories to make impact
To read the full article, click here.
How this impacts providers: Providers should enroll in the DSHS Immunization Program, if they have not already done so, in order to receive doses of and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. To enroll, physicians can go to EnrollTexasIZ.dshs.texas.gov. Only providers registered through this site can receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Medical facilities must provide a list of providers who will be responsible for vaccinations. Each facility or location, including those that are part of a hospital system or clinic network, must register separately. For more information on vaccine registration click here.
Next steps for providers: Providers should also prepare their staff to address patients’ questions on the COVID vaccination. Click here for a helpful COVID-19 vaccine script that offices can utilize when speaking with patients. Additionally, providers should access this communication; Providers are encouraged to register to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine for information on vaccination sites and resources while anticipating their vaccine inventory to arrive.
If you have any questions, please email Provider Network Management at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.For access to all provider alerts,log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers