The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual exams for children and teens ages 5-18 years.

A wellness exam allows your child’s doctor to do a thorough medical check-up, make sure immunizations are up-to-date, and discuss any developmental or health issues your child may be facing.

By updating your child’s medical history each year, your pediatrician gains a greater awareness of your child’s progress and development. This helps the doctor detect any problems that may be emerging.
The annual exam is your opportunity to ask your child’s doctor for advice and information on important topics like proper nutrition and exercise. Plus, your doctor will counsel you on other important safety and injury prevention topics: age-appropriate use of booster seats, seat belts, bike helmets, and sunscreen
Back-to-school checkups are the only time some children, especially teens, will see their health care provider all year.
On the topic of adolescents, a yearly check-up is a chance for the doctor to talk with your teen about making healthy lifestyle choices: avoiding drugs, tobacco products, and alcohol and knowing the risks of sexual activity. Your pediatrician may also ask specific questions to screen your teen for depression.
Addressing any physical or emotional issues early on can have a positive impact on how well your child will adjust to the new school year and perform in the classroom. Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. Children have more well-child visits when they are younger. This is because development is faster during these years.
Each visit includes a complete physical exam. At this exam, our medical team will check the child’s growth and development to find or prevent problems. We will record your child’s height, weight, and other important information. Hearing, vision, and other screening tests will be part of some visits. Even if your child is healthy, well-child visits are a good time to focus on your child’s wellness. Talking about ways to improve care and prevent problems helps keep your child healthy.

INFORMATION

At your well-child visits, you will get information on topics such as:

• Sleep.
• Safety.
• Childhood Diseases.

What to expect as your child grows.

There are several schedules for routine well-child visits. One schedule, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, is given below.

1. Physical Exam
A school physical is a regular annual exam. Your state or school district defines how often you must update your child’s medical file and what forms are necessary. Expect to have a school physical before entering school for the first time. After that, it varies widely. For example, some schools match physicals to changes in school level—such as moving up to middle school—and others match them to vaccine schedules.

2. Immunization
Your state or school district sets the requirements and exemptions for vaccines. Schools generally follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for vaccination. For this reason, you usually need to update your child’s immunization record at ages when vaccine series and boosters are complete. This occurs at four to six years and 11 to 12 years. Make copies of your child’s immunization record and any forms you send to school, so you have your records.

3. Dental Exam
Many states require certification of an oral health assessment for school-aged children. Like physical exams, the frequency of dental exams varies widely. Some states require a one-time exam before starting school for the first time, while others call for an annual exam. And of course, some states fall somewhere in between those two policies. Check with your school to find out your state or school district’s requirements.

4. Vision And Hearing Screening
Vision and hearing problems can affect your child’s ability to learn and function in school. As a result, most states have requirements for vision and hearing screenings. Once again, the requirements vary greatly, from states that mandate annual screenings to states that only require a one-time screening before starting school for the first time. Often, schools offer these screenings on-site during the school year. Check with your school to find out more.

5. Scoliosis Screening
Scoliosis is a lateral—or side-to-side—curvature of the spine. It often develops during preteen and early teen years. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that girls undergo screening twice, in grades five and seven, and boys undergo screening once, in grades eight or nine. Screening can find scoliosis in earlier stages when it’s most treatable. However, less than half of the state’s mandate in-school scoliosis screening. Even if your school doesn’t offer screening, your child’s pediatrician will screen for scoliosis at the yearly exam.

6. Additional Screenings
Each state is a little different regarding student needs and the standards it sets. Some states require additional screenings to supplement the ones already listed. This includes drug testing and body mass index, diabetes, asthma, lead, and other chronic disease screenings.

To register for this program, go to [email protected]

Provide the name of the parent, the name of the child, birthdate, and phone number. We will contact you when your child’s turn comes.