NextGen Knowledge Center

Document the PEARLS Screening Tool

You can document pediatric patient details in the PEARLS screening tool to screen the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Toxic Stress.

  1. Open NextGen® Enterprise EHR.
  2. Select Specialty as Pediatrics and Visit Type as Office Visit.
  3. Expand the navigation bar, and select Screening Tools.
    The Screening Tools Available template opens.
  4. From the grid, select one of the following screening tools based on the patient's age group.
    • If you are a parent or caregiver of a child of age between 0 to 11 years, select the ACEs PEARLS (0-11 years) tool.
    • If you are a parent or caregiver of a teen of age between 12 to 19 years, select the ACEs PEARLS (12-19 years) tool.
    • If you are a teen of age between 12 to 19 years, select the ACEs PEARLS (12-19 years) self-report tool.
    The screening tool, based on your selection, opens.
  5. In the screening tool, do one of the following:
    • If you are a caregiver, enter your name and the child for whom you are taking the screening test in the To be completed by fields.
    • If you are taking the test by yourself, enter your name in the To be completed by field.
    1. If your answer to a question is Yes, select the check box adjacent to the question.
      One point is added for answering a question.
    2. If your answer to a question is No, do not select the check box.
      You do not receive any point if your answer is No.
    After you complete part one of the screening tool, based on the number of questions you answered, the total number of points appears in the How many "Yes" did you answer in Part 1? field. Similarly, after you complete part 2 of the questionnaire, the total points appear in the How many "Yes" did you answer in Part 2? field.
  6. To interpret your results of Part 1 of the questionnaire, select the Interpretation link.
    The PEARLS Part 1 Interpretation window opens where a provider can select a level of risk based on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Toxic Stress Risk Assessment Algorithm table.
    PEARLS Part 1 Interpretation

  7. Select Save & Close.
    The screening tool is added to the order table and the Screening Tools Performed grid.