Back to School, Back to the Doctor
No matter what grade your child is about to enter, there's always a back-to-school checklist of to-dos. It's a good idea to add a visit to your family's pediatrician for an annual wellness exam and sports physical to that list. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocates that every child and youth receive care through a family-centered medical home. Within the medical home, care is provided continuously over a long period of time so that as your child ages and develops, his or her care is never interrupted. Adolescence, for example, is a time when vital changes are taking place; seeing the pediatrician is important during the transition into puberty. Build your child's medical history. When you have a long-term history with your pediatrician, it allows him or her the opportunity to follow your child's progress and development over time. This helps detect emerging problems, as well as stay informed on any new details of the pa...