Add Vital Signs of Pediatric Patients

You can document the vital signs of a pediatric patient on the Pediatric Vital Signs template.

1. Open NextGen® Enterprise EHR.
2. Open a patient's record, and then open an encounter.
3. On Top Toolbar, click Templates to open the Select Template window, and then select the Intake template.
4. In the Vital Signs panel, click Add.
   The Pediatric [Age] Vital Signs template opens.
5. In the Height/length measurements section, do one of the following:
   • To use data from a previous encounter, select Carried forward .
   • To enter data from today's encounter, select a position and then enter the height, and then select Measured today.
     Note: If the value entered is not within the range, a message appears to indicate that the value entered is out of range.
     

     Figure 1.

6. In the Weight measurement section, select whether the patient is dressed with or without shoes, and then enter the weight.
7. In the Growth percentile section, enter the patient's height and weight.
   The value for BMI and Weight for length is automatically calculated. If the BMI or weight per length percentile is out of the normal range, a message appears.

   Note: The BMI is only applicable to patients who are older than two years. The weight for length percentile is only applicable to patients who are three years or younger.
8. In the BMI/BSA calculation section, click Calculate.
   To view the formula used for the BSA calculation, click .
9. In the Head/Waist/Hip circumference section, enter measurements in the associated fields.
10. In the Temperature section, enter the temperature and the site where you checked the temperature.
11. Enter the patient's blood pressure, pulse, respiration, peak level, and pain level in the respective sections.
12. To document findings on hearing and visual screenings for patients who are older than two years, click the Audiometry Exam and Vision Screening links and document the details.
13. To enter additional information, click the Comments field.
14. Save and close the template.
    The documented vital signs are added in the grid.