It’s hard to believe that we’re already planning for kids to head back to school. While the 2020-20201 school year may be a little different than before, one things remains the same – the importance of your child’s annual back-to-school physical exam. We recommend that your child receives an annual wellness checkup every year, even if it is not required by the school district.
What to Expect During Your Child’s Annual Physical
Annual physicals are a valuable way to monitor your child’s physical health and development, as well as their emotional and social development. Wellness checkups are tailored to your child’s age and are an excellent opportunity for you or your child to ask the doctor about any concerns you have.
During your child’s annual exam, we will:
- Do a physical exam, including height and weight
- Check blood pressure, vision and hearing
- Inquire about your child’s development (social, gross and fine motor skills, speech and communication skills, and more), nutrition, exercise habits and sleep patterns
- Review your child’s medical history & immunization status
- Provide age-appropriate safety information & health education
- Follow the standards set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Make Sure Immunizations are Up-to-Date
To prevent the spread of diseases and to keep all kids of all ages safe and healthy, students from kindergarten to college must have proof of immunizations before they can start school. During your child’s physical, your provider will make sure all immunizations are up-to-date, and administer vaccines if needed. It’s important that whoever brings your child to his or her appointment knows the child’s medical and vaccination history. Make sure to keep vaccination records (sometimes called immunization records) in a safe place. These records provide a history of all the vaccines you received as a child and adult, and may be required for certain jobs, travel abroad, or school registration.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
The necessary health forms may vary by school district, so please check with the district where your child will be attending school to get the proper forms prior to the appointment for your child’s physical exam. If your child is also receiving a sports physical examination (required if your child will be participating in any sports activities during the school year), please also bring these forms to your appointment.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Don’t delay. Beat the back-to-school rush and book your appointment today by calling 845-563-8000. Safety procedures are in place and we are properly sanitizing all exam rooms in between each session to keep you safe and healthy. Thank you for trusting Cornerstone Family Healthcare with your health.
