By: Allyson Agathis, MD, FAAP
Why does my child need a physical? Many parents ask that.
There are many reasons to have a yearly physical. Here are some of the most important.
- Checkup appointments allow us to examine patients for normal physical development. Heart murmurs, enlargement of liver or spleen, enlargement of lymph nodes, abnormal development of pubertal characteristics, and many more are all things that can be uncovered at a physical exam. We also can check if vaccinations are updated.
- Encouragement and education for the establishment of good health habits. Well checkups allow us to discuss the importance of sleep, good eating habits, and regular exercise. Explaining to patients that weight, nutrition, and fitness are very different things and making sure each patient is caring for each aspect is very important.
- Mental health screening. It has been a difficult year for everyone with COVID-19 restrictions and alterations in lifestyle, but even without these, screening patients for depression and anxiety, and other mental health disorders is a must. It allows patients to know someone is concerned and listening and allows us to intervene when necessary. In addition, we can review and suggest parenting techniques and provide advice for families. We also can discuss the dangers of vaping, drug and alcohol use, and personal safety.
- Screening bloodwork and testing. Many patients require screening bloodwork. These include menstruating females, those at certain ages, with certain medical conditions or family histories of medical conditions, those on regular medications who require yearly screening for a CBC to assess bone marrow function or liver function, those not growing at a rate consistent with their predicted height, those not gaining well or those gaining too much weight as a few examples.
- To establish a Medical Home. One of our most important jobs as a primary care provider to act as the medical home for patients. All consultation reports, specialist findings, and other medical testing are kept in one location. This allows the primary care provider to be the coordinator of all these and allows us to help parents and patients make medical decisions.
- Sports and activity clearance. All NJ middle school and high school athletes require a PPE form filled out. It requires taking a lengthy medical history for risk factors and a thorough physical exam. Sometimes additional screening like an EKG is required or an Echocardiogram.
- The college connection! Students leaving for college or boarding school need a game plan for eating and sleeping and exercise. We need to review their medical history, provide needed medications, explain when they should go to the health center, and let them know they can call whenever they need to.