(AREA) — As you make your way through that back-to-school checklist, don’t forget to schedule an annual well-child visit with your primary care provider if you haven’t done so already. Childhood is a time of rapid growth and development, so it’s important to monitor your child’s health progress to ensure that they are growing and developing normally.
During a well-child visit, your provider will perform a physical exam, give your child any necessary shots (immunizations or vaccinations), track how your child is growing and developing, talk about illness prevention, diet, physical fitness, as well as health and safety issues, and talk about how to handle emergencies and sudden illness. Even if your child is healthy, a well-child visit is important because it provides an opportunity to focus on wellness promotion, as well as address any worries and concerns you may have for your child’s health.
The advantage to being proactive with your child’s health is that your health insurance plan will cover a well-child visit and any recommended vaccinations at no cost to you when administered by an in-network provider; as opposed to taking your child to your primary care provider when they are sick and having to pay for the visit and treatment. If your child needs a physical for sports or another activity, a well-child visit can take the place of an additional physical evaluation if your child has not had a well-child exam within the calendar year. For sports physicals, a sport physical form will need to be taken with you to your well-child visit to ensure completion by your provider.
Marlette Regional Hospital and McKenzie Health System as affiliates of United Healthcare Partners have primary care provider offices located in Brown City, Croswell, Kingston, Marlette, Mayville, North Branch, Peck, Port Sanilac, and Sandusky. For more information, please call 989-635-1861 or 810-648-6161.
