Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed with school preparation to get your kids in for well-child visits and sports physicals at RiverView Health. Now is the perfect time to check those items off your to-do list before the rush of supply shopping and sports practices begins.
“Annual well-child exams are not only a time to update immunizations, but also to ensure your child is healthy and growing as they should,’’ shared Riley Hermreck, FNP-C.
Hermreck sees patients from birth through age 18 for well-child exams as a family nurse practitioner. Other family medicine providers available for well-child visits are Dr. Lauren Rose, Dr. Erik Kanten, Natalie Royal, FNP-C, Tia Gullickson, FNP-C, Forrest LaPort, CNP, and Paul Reese, PA.
Yearly well-child exams are essential to your child’s good health, allowing their provider time to check your child’s physical and mental health and overall well-being. Well-child exams allow for:
- Observation of growth and development
- Detection of illness by screening examinations
- Immunization maintenance
- Counseling and education of parents and children
- Promotion of mental health
Time to Address Concerns, Get Additional Help
Well-child visits are a great time to discuss any concerns about your child with their provider. If they are not doing well academically or socially, or if there are problems in the family, this is an excellent time to reach out for help. Your provider can help you access many resources, such as other medical professionals, counselors (child and family), and local programs.
To get the most out of your child’s visit:
- Prepare a list of things you would like to discuss with the provider and bring that list with you to the visit.
- Do not be afraid to discuss a subject that concerns you.
- Talk to others around you who spend time with your child – teachers, grandparents, parents of peers, etc. They can help you identify any issues you might not have noticed.
Check with your insurance company; most insurance policies cover the cost of well-child exams.
Sports Physicals Offered at Same Appointment
If your child is entering seventh grade or above and plans to participate in sports, they can get a well-child exam and sports physical at the same appointment. If this is your intention, let the patient access representative know when you call to schedule the appointment.
The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) requires students to have a physical exam every three years, typically before entering seventh and tenth grades. The sports physical is an opportunity to address exercise-specific issues, including injuries, nutrition, training and exercise programs, and even attitudes toward sports participation. While a RiverView sports physical meets all of the requirements for participation in sports by the MSHSL, it is not intended to replace a well-child exam. A well-child exam is much more comprehensive and includes reviewing immunization records, medical history, and family history.
To speed up your child’s in-person appointment, fill out the MSHSL’s sports physical form and bring it to the appointment. The form is available at MSHSL Sports Physical Form.
“We look forward to seeing your kids and helping with their healthcare needs,’’ Hermreck concluded.
To schedule a well-child exam/sports physical, please call your preferred RiverView Clinic:
- Crookston, 218-281-9595
- Fertile, 218-945-6695
- Red Lake Falls, 218-253-4606
