School Physicals Across New Jersey
Many schools, extracurricular activities, and sports programs require physical exams before the academic year begins or before a sports season begins. While they’re often needed for participation, the physical is also a great opportunity to get valuable medical feedback on your child’s health and growth. Vanguard Medical Group offers school physicals to children and teens throughout New Jersey to ensure they start the year in good health and receive the proper treatment for any conditions they may have.
What to Expect
Before this important annual visit begins, our friendly intake team will assist you with filling out your paperwork and updating your records. Then, a certified clinician will evaluate your child’s health and assess a wide variety of factors, including:
- Family history
- Medical history
- Past injuries
- Height
- Weight
- Blood pressure
- Vision
- Heart function
- Speech
- Other essential systems
Aside from the routine checkup, the doctor may also ask children about things like study habits, school friends, problems with bullying, eating habits, and other aspects of your child’s daily life. They will then compare their results to previous evaluations to see how your child has developed over time. The clinician will also ensure all your child’s vaccinations are current and can arrange to renew them if necessary.
The Importance of School Physicals
Children change dramatically as they move through childhood and adolescence, and as they continue to grow, their healthcare needs change as well. Outside of other visits with your primary care physician, the school physical is an opportunity for you and your clinician to ensure your child is developing in a healthy way. These physicals can diagnose and address a variety of new and ongoing problems, such as:
- Allergies and reactions
- Special dietary needs
- Substance abuse
- Behavioral disorders
- Social health
- Anxiety
- Depression
It’s essential to catch developmental problems quickly so you can be sure that your child will have successful treatment and a quick recovery. By noticing and treating the problem, your child can continue to grow without lasting consequences.
Special Attention for Chronic Conditions
Annual school physicals are also a crucial way to keep track of chronic medical conditions. They give clinicians the chance to analyze the condition, make sure treatments are still effective, and ensure the condition isn’t getting worse. School physicals can address a variety of common chronic illnesses in children, including:
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Cystic fibrosis
- Developmental disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
Schedule a School Physical
The annual school physical is an important step to ensuring your child can continue to enjoy a healthy and happy childhood. It’s also a chance to alert your child’s school to any conditions they have. If your child needs medication, has dietary restrictions, or requires special accommodations for their condition, the school’s nurses and guardians can be alerted of the need and make any necessary arrangements.
Offering parents convenience and flexibility, Vanguard Medical Group offers physical checkups at our locations throughout New Jersey. We strongly recommend annual physicals for children, even if they are not required for certain activities. Contact us at a location near you to find out more or to request an appointment.
