Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said such back-to-school checkups provide a holistic look at a child’s physical and mental health, including making sure children are physically, emotionally and developmentally on track for their age.
“These visits are helping monitor your child’s growth and development. They’re making sure that your immunizations stay up-to-date. They’re doing important screenings like vision and hearing, and providing important information around preventative screenings as well,” Randall outlined.
Randall reminded parents to schedule dental and vision screenings for their children. Thousands of children in North Carolina suffer from some kind of vision loss and tooth decay and cavities are one of the most common chronic conditions among children.
Wellness checkups also focus on a child’s emotional well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five children in the U.S. has a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder.
Healthcare professionals emphasize early conversations with kids about how kids feel and how to cope can make a major difference.
Dr. David Tayloe, pediatrician at Coastal Children’s Clinic in New Bern, explained preventive screenings can help young students find success during the school year.
“All this is to make sure that they are healthy for the year to come. For a lot of children, their annual wellness check is their main visit with us during the year, especially if they’re healthy and they don’t get sick that much,” Tayloe pointed out.
Tayloe suggested parents call the local pediatrician’s office or review online options when scheduling an appointment.