Why a well visit is a healthy addition to your back-to-school list

As summer winds down, it’s easy to forget an important task on your child’s back-to-school checklist: a well visit.  

“These visits are a great way to help your child start the school year on a positive note,” says Dr. Markeita Moore, a pediatrician with pediatric virtual primary care at Aurora Health Care. “It’s a chance to check your child’s overall growth, development and emotional well-being.” 

During a well visit, your doctor will: 

• Track your child’s growth and development 
• Evaluate heart and lung health 
• Provide child safety guidance 
• Review and update vaccinations 
• Discuss sleep, nutrition and mental health 

“These visits help us catch any concerns early and give parents a chance to ask questions,” says Dr. Moore. She recommends bringing a list of topics to cover. If something needs more attention, your doctor can schedule a follow-up appointment. 

Depending on your child’s age and grade, the visit may include required school screenings, such as vision and hearing tests. The doctor can also complete any school-required medical forms, including a sports physical form. 

As your thoughts turn to school supplies and new schedules in the last weeks of summer, scheduling your child’s well visit may feel like one more thing to manage. But Dr. Moore urges parents not to put it off.  

“Your child’s health is just as important as their school prep,” says Dr. Moore. “A well visit sets them up for a healthy, confident start to the year.” 

With busy schedules, it’s not always easy to find time for a doctor’s appointment. A dedicated pediatric virtual primary care  provider can help solve that problem by allowing you to receive care from home or while you’re on-the-go.

If you choose a virtual care provider, your child’s well visit includes both a video visit and an in-person visit. You’ll start with a video visit with your child’s pediatric virtual primary care provider, followed by an in-person visit at a location close to home.

The in-person visit takes place within two weeks of the virtual appointment. Before the visit, your child’s virtual and in-person providers work together to plan for the physical exam, vaccinations and any needed lab work, so you can feel confident your child’s care is connected.

Establish your child’s care with a virtual provider in Illinois or Wisconsin.