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April showers bring … back-to-school appointments?
During the month of May, the last thing on kids' and parents' minds is back-to-school season. But according to Dr. Rachel Bye, pediatrician at HealthEast Maplewood Clinic, this is the perfect time to start planning ahead.
Easy does it
"A lot of people put off their kids' doctor appointments for the end of the summer. But as a result, things get very busy in August. Scheduling your appointment for June or July gets you in while everything around our offices is more relaxed, and if you need to schedule extra time for more complex health concerns, it's easier to accomplish."
Q & A
"Parents, especially ones with younger children, have a lot of questions and concerns. Bringing those along earlier in the summer gives us a little more time to address any problems – and if you write them down ahead of time, we can make sure we don't miss a thing. These appointments complement school screenings, looking at nutrition, exercise, growth, development and more."
'Tis the season for sports
"Most high schools and many middle schools require physical exam forms for kids who play sports. Even if your child is not planning on joining a sport, it's a great idea to fill those long forms out and bring them along: You won't be in a rush so you'll get all the details, and they're good for two years, so if your kid decides to join a sport, they'll be ready. The detailed family health history you fill out is valuable information to review with your doctor."
Timing is everything
"Even though school-aged kids only need immunizations at the beginning of their kindergarten and seventh-grade years, we recommend full physical exams every other year, when they're 5, 7, 9 and so on. This lets us track growth and development, as well as social issues and confidential care when kids reach their teen years."
Be a disease-buster
"Your school physical exam is also a good time to double-check that you're up to date on immunizations: In recent years, we've seen whooping cough, Haemophilous meningitis, measles – all diseases that can be vaccinated for, but have not been eradicated. The only way to eliminate these diseases is for everyone to stay on track for their vaccinations."
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