During this heightened “sick” season, we see our patients a lot more than we (and they) want to. Ear infections, viral illnesses, strep, and flu—everything comes out this time of year. With all these sick visits, we find that some parents don’t always want to bring their kids back in when they are feeling great. The truth is, we can provide our exceptional quality of care when children are ill because we have seen them when they are well.
Here is why you should schedule your child’s next well-care visit.
- We get to know children for who they really are.
Let’s face it. No one acts on their best behavior when they don’t feel well, especially when they have to come into an unfamiliar office and be seen by an unfamiliar doctor—and they would much rather curl up with a blanket and watch cartoons. By seeing children when they are well, we understand what their “normal” is and can treat each individual child accordingly, even (and especially) if their symptoms don’t present like those found in other kids.
- Well visits show medical staff for the health partners they really are.
If children only see a healthcare provider when they are sick, they start to assume that if they are in the office, something must be wrong with them. Well-care visits lay the groundwork for a partnership—a “health-y” relationship, we might say—between a child and his or her care provider. As trust builds in this relationship, they will hopefully be empowered to speak more freely about their bodies, symptoms, concerns, and feelings. Not only will this make future well visits more informative, it also makes sick visits that much more efficient.
- It’s all fun and games. Well, for the most part.
Well-care visits are all about the child and how amazing they are doing at the hard job of growing up. We’ll celebrate the growth in height and the strength in pounds. We’ll make sure those eyes and ears are working like they should. We’ll ask a ton of questions and document everything so that everyone at Family Healthcare of Siouxland knows your little one as well as their regular healthcare provider does.
And yes, chances are that if your child is under the age of 6, a vaccination or two may be in order. While getting a shot is not always easy, we’ll do everything we can to make it as quick and painless as possible.
- We can catch abnormalities earlier, and treat them more effectively.
We believe that each child is different and grows in his or her way. Our job as healthcare providers is to help children maximize their growth, learning, and social potential. Sometimes this means watching and waiting, and sometimes this means recommending additional services. Studies show again and again that the earlier we can catch and treat ailments and disorders, the more effective the treatment.
- We get to help explain what the child (and you) can expect at the next visit.
As each well-care visit wraps up, we have a chance to go over the developmental milestones you can expect to see between this appointment and the next one. It helps us reinforce the idea that doctors and nurses are active and committed members of your child’s wellness team, and we are here on a long-term and ongoing basis.
All in all, well-care visits are important because they allow us all to practice proactive and preventative medicine. The more often we see your child, the better we can understand what is normal for them and how we as a team can help them shine to their brightest potential.
Not sure when your child’s next well-care visit is? Check here