Popular Primary Care Services for Children

Your primary care provider is the primary connection you and your family have to healthcare services. Developing a long-term relationship ensures that the child's health care needs are met, from well-child checkups to treatment for a cold or a minor injury to ongoing support for chronic conditions or disability.

Popular children primary care services

The following are some of the common primary care services for children:

Well-child exams

The primary care provider will assess the children's physical, social, and emotional health at each well-child visit. They will assess the child's development and growth during the appointment and their sleep, nutrition, activity, education, and dental care. A full medical, surgical, and family history will be taken, as well as a thorough physical examination.

A well-child appointment is an excellent time for parents to ask about any concerns they have about their child's health and get proactive advice. If any referrals or suggestions are necessary, the doctor will connect them with the appropriate services. For well-child exams, the primary care provider often follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) schedule, which includes different age milestones from birth.

Same-day sick visits

Children may be suddenly affected by an ailment that needs urgent care. Same-day sick visits are available as a primary care service. It is advisable to make an appointment ahead of time or so parents can see a doctor right away.

Routine immunizations

Vaccinations aid in the development of immunity and, therefore, protection against certain illnesses in youngsters. Vaccines allow the child's immune system to create antibodies to combat infections or germs that cause illness. Vaccinations protect the child against illness and help decrease the risk of infection by limiting the transmission of infection in a community. All children should be vaccinated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Sports physicals

Sports physicals are another common primary care service for children. Physicals are necessary to identify whether the child has any health issues that might prevent them from participating in specific sports. The doctor may perform the physical when the child comes for a routine well-child examination, and they can also complete the physical verification form afterward. They can usually fill out the paperwork if it has not been more than a year since the well-child exam was performed.

Knowing when to choose primary care or urgent care

Primary care – Regular checkups and well-child appointments offer preventive care measures from childhood to adolescence and quick intervention for several children's health conditions, such as a fever, rash, vomiting or diarrhea that persists over a few hours, ear pain, serious sore throat, or difficulty swallowing, bloody urine or stool, limping, and cough.

Urgent care – When the primary care doctor is not available after hours, urgent care ensures you get prompt care for common childhood health conditions or minor injuries, including symptoms of colds and flu, asthma treatment, mild burns or cuts, poison ivy, insect bites, and minor or non-life-threatening allergic reactions.

Call 911 immediately in case of a serious injury or sickness with symptoms like uncontrollable bleeding, seizure, difficulty breathing, or unconsciousness.

In conclusion

If you have further inquiries about primary care services for children, contact the office to book an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://herndon.millenniummedicalcare.com or call Millennium Medical Care Herndon at (703) 743-7849 for an appointment in our Herndon office.

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