Page 4 - June 2018

Page 4 ITS YOUR BUSINESS!

The Well Visit
Michal Waechter www.abcdpediatrics.com

Well Child visit, Annual visit, Physi- Babies and the Young Child We ten done during the well visit. We
cal… words you may have heard for review growth, development, nutri- like to encourage children and ado-
this important visit with your child’s tion, oral and dental care, as well as lescents to see their primary care
physician. Well child visits are more the physical exam. We also spend physician for their annual physical
important than you may realize. Chil- time discussing anticipatory guid- or sports physical, to be able to
dren see their pediatrician 9 times for ance, topics to help prevent illness track a child’s history. Children that
well visits before their second birth- and injury, and expected milestones have weight concerns or family his-
day. Most parents are aware of these to come. We will also ask questions tory also may need lab screening for
early visits as a baby and things like diabetes or ele-
toddler, but these visits vated cholesterol as well as
should continue through building a plan to help
childhood and adoles- reach healthy lifestyle goals.
cence as well. High School Senior The
senior students getting
So, what is so important ready for college also may
or what are done at these need paperwork and vac-
visits, you may ask. We cine updates such as the
were just there for an ear new Meningitis B vaccine,
infection or cold, why do the Meningitis booster, and
we need to go back for another visit? to review for possible underlying the HPV vaccine. We also like to
Or if my child is healthy and doesn’t illness and go over any parental con- discuss with this population healthy
need vaccines, what’s the point of go- cerns. lifestyle planning with eating, exer-
ing? From head circumference and Older Child and Adolescent We cise, as well as good decision mak-
anemia screens for the babies to scoli- screen for any behavior or learning ing skills in social and other set-
osis and depression screening for the concerns, anxiety or depression, and tings.
adolescents; there are guidelines for often will speak to the child with the
what should be done during each of parent out of the room to review The summer season is a busy time
these visits as well as a set of time any other concerns the child wishes in the pediatric office for physicals,
specifically to discuss vital topics. to discuss. We also continue to re- so call early and book your appoint-
These visits are recommend by the view growth, check blood pressure, ment for this important visit.
American Academy of Pediatrics, and monitor puberty progression
AAP, as well as felt to be valuable and things that come with this, in-
enough that most insurances cover cluding acne and menstruation. This
these visits without a co-pay or cov- consistency of visits also helps form
ered fully. Vaccines are a part of some a relationship with the child as well
visits, but this is actually a very small as build trust as the child goes
portion of the well visits. Chronic ill- through adolescence and the deci-
ness and acquired diseases can show sions and pressures that come with
subtle signs early on that can be dis- this age.
covered at well visits, such as hypo- Camp or Sport Physical These
thyroidism, celiac disease, diabetes, physicals and questionnaires are
anxiety and several others. Some skin more than just a formality, but used
and physical exam findings can also to help prevent sudden cardiovascu-
be signs of underlying illness that may lar death and other injury or illness
be first noted at a well visit. during activity. These forms are of-