Open Forum

Good morning!  Have any of your organizations implemented a chaperone policy? If so, when is a chaperone offered and how is it documented?  Is it asked with all rooming, or does it depend on appointment type?  Is the clinician documenting that a chaperone was utilized or is the chaperone documenting?  Thank you! 

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Larissa Niedfeldt
Ambulatory Clinical Manager
Gundersen Health System
La Crosse WI
(608)317-0818
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Thank you!

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Larissa Niedfeldt, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Ambulatory Clinical Manager
Department of Nursing-Gundersen Health System
La Crosse, WI 54601
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-27-2023 08:41
From: PAULA CUDE
Subject: Chaperone Policy

Larissa, 

Our practice uses a chaperone for any type of more intimate exam.   It is usually just one of the rooming nurses.   For instance, any time there is a pelvic or breast exam, if a female provider examines a male patient, if a female patient has a concern anywhere near the groin/upper thigh/breast area.  Usually for male exams by a male provider, the provider asks the patient.   This is documented by the provider.  

Paula H Cude, BSN, RN Team Coordinator  Office: 540-564-5403  Fax:   757-390-2795 Email: phcude@sentara.com  Medical Avenue Health Center 1931 Medical Ave Harrisonburg, VA  22801

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Hi Larissa

We implemented this some time ago.  Sometimes the rooming staff asks and documents and sometimes our providers do this step. It just depends on when it is determined there will be a sensitive exam. I have attached our policy and our 'need to know' that was sent to our teams for education. Hope this helps you!

Shannon

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Shannon Hilliard RN
Mount Nittany Physician Grp
shilliard@mountnittany.org
Bellefonte PA
(814)278-4865
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Thank you, very helpful!

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Larissa Niedfeldt, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Ambulatory Clinical Manager
Department of Nursing-Gundersen Health System
La Crosse, WI 54601
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-27-2023 09:30
From: Shannon Hilliard
Subject: Chaperone Policy

Hi Larissa

We implemented this some time ago.  Sometimes the rooming staff asks and documents and sometimes our providers do this step. It just depends on when it is determined there will be a sensitive exam. I have attached our policy and our 'need to know' that was sent to our teams for education. Hope this helps you!

Shannon

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Shannon Hilliard RN
Mount Nittany Physician Grp
shilliard@mountnittany.org
Bellefonte PA
(814)278-4865
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We talked about this some time ago and wrote an outline as to what we would include but have never formalized into a policy. Your note is a good reminder that we need to do that. When we talked thru it initially I think I searched AAACN site and found a couple of really good policies.  

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Patricia Hughes DNP RN NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, Ambulatory
UK HealthCare
Lexington KY
(859)323-4413
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Hi! I am in Dermatology so we have a chaperone for all total body skin exams, we have this incorporated into the physicians note so they can just add in the Nurse/MA name. We don't ask as this is part of our policy - if a male resident or scribe is working with the physician we will ask the female patients if they are okay with a male and vice versa. If they are not then we have the chaperone step behind the curtain but stay in the room during the exam. Hope this helps!

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Lauren Crociata BSN RN
Clinical Nurse Manager
Stony Brook Dermatology Associates
Stony Brook NY
(631)638-0125
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