Q. Does my child need a physical every year? Is there a difference between a school physical and the exam required for school sports participation?
A. The decision of how often your child receives a full physical examination depends on a number of factors, such as your personal preference, your child's individual health needs, the advice of your child's physician, and state or school requirements. When making the decision, you'll want to consider:
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that children and adolescents receive a routine health exam every two years after kindergarten.
2. Wisconsin mandates a school physical for students entering kindergarten, but additional requirements within school districts vary.
Illinois mandates have changed a bit this year, and a complete physical is now required for students entering kindergarten, sixth, and ninth grade. Some schools require a physical for new students. Previously in Illinois, a physical was required for students entering fifth grade; however, as the new recommendation for a sixth-grade physical takes effect, students who received a fifth-grade physical last year do not need another physical as they enter sixth grade. Also, Illinois now requires that children entering kindergarten receive an exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
In addition, there have been a number of changes in recommendations and requirements for both states regarding immunizations, so parents should check with their children's healthcare provider to see if and how these changes affect their children.
3. Each child is different. If your child has special health concerns, you'll want to discuss your options with your child's physician. It's important that symptoms are monitored, and conditions are managed.
4. Your child has special needs as they grow. Even if you don't feel that as an adult, you require a regular check-up (which is a discussion you should have with your primary care provider), you must remember a child isn't a miniature adult. Kids' bodies are going through big changes and developmental milestones that can impact their health for the rest of their lives. Regular exams will also help identify any potential health problems at their earliest stages, when problems can be treated most effectively.
Q: What's the difference between school physicals and sports physicals?
A: If your child is going to participate in a school sport, they require an examination often referred to as a "sports physical." At Monroe Clinic, we use the name "pre-participation examination" rather than "sports physical" to describe this service, because we find it more accurately reflects the level of medical attention offered during the process.
A sports physical or pre-participation sports screening does not replace a complete medical exam. The primary purpose for a pre-participation screening is to determine an athlete's physical eligibility to participate and to determine health related issues which would restrict or disqualify an athlete from participating in sports. In most cases, a sports physicals or pre-participation sports screenings are priced at a flat rate and are not billed to insurance.
A school physical, however, does include all the elements of a complete medical exam. School physicals, also called complete physicals or routine health exams, are scheduled as a regular physician visit. In addition to elements contained in the pre-participation screening, a school physical may also include:
• Reviewing medical history, including review of medical records
• Interviewing and addressing issues of preventative health care
• Addressing adolescent health care issues
• Assessing need for any lab work or immunizations
• Addressing and treating medical concerns, as well as injuries
• Updating or renewing any prescription medications
• Rectal/pelvic/neurologic evaluation, if needed
In most cases, a school physical is handled like any visit to the doctor and is billed to insurance. The need for vaccinations and lab tests can vary based on the patient's age and history.
Q: Shouldn't my child be ill or show symptoms before we visit the doctor?
A: Ideally, physicals should take place when the patient is feeling healthy. This goes for kids and adults.
During a physical, your caregiver needs to be able detect any symptoms or uncover issues that might not be obvious when accompanied by cold symptoms or an ear infection. This is also a time to establish baselines - a record of the patient when he or she is in normal health. For instance, peoples' blood pressure range varies, and by establishing a patient's normal blood pressure range, a health care provider is better equipped to recognize an abnormal blood pressure level.
Physicals play an important role in preventive medicine, and preventive medicine is a central part of a primary care provider's practice. This includes health education, routine screenings, needed immunizations, disease management, and the need to establish a comfortable relationship between the patient and healthcare provider.
- Dr. Amy Johnson is a pediatrician who provides health care for children from birth through young adulthood. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa and completed her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis. Dr. Johnson is board-certified in Pediatrics and works at Monroe Clinic and Monroe Clinic-Freeport.
A. The decision of how often your child receives a full physical examination depends on a number of factors, such as your personal preference, your child's individual health needs, the advice of your child's physician, and state or school requirements. When making the decision, you'll want to consider:
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that children and adolescents receive a routine health exam every two years after kindergarten.
2. Wisconsin mandates a school physical for students entering kindergarten, but additional requirements within school districts vary.
Illinois mandates have changed a bit this year, and a complete physical is now required for students entering kindergarten, sixth, and ninth grade. Some schools require a physical for new students. Previously in Illinois, a physical was required for students entering fifth grade; however, as the new recommendation for a sixth-grade physical takes effect, students who received a fifth-grade physical last year do not need another physical as they enter sixth grade. Also, Illinois now requires that children entering kindergarten receive an exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
In addition, there have been a number of changes in recommendations and requirements for both states regarding immunizations, so parents should check with their children's healthcare provider to see if and how these changes affect their children.
3. Each child is different. If your child has special health concerns, you'll want to discuss your options with your child's physician. It's important that symptoms are monitored, and conditions are managed.
4. Your child has special needs as they grow. Even if you don't feel that as an adult, you require a regular check-up (which is a discussion you should have with your primary care provider), you must remember a child isn't a miniature adult. Kids' bodies are going through big changes and developmental milestones that can impact their health for the rest of their lives. Regular exams will also help identify any potential health problems at their earliest stages, when problems can be treated most effectively.
Q: What's the difference between school physicals and sports physicals?
A: If your child is going to participate in a school sport, they require an examination often referred to as a "sports physical." At Monroe Clinic, we use the name "pre-participation examination" rather than "sports physical" to describe this service, because we find it more accurately reflects the level of medical attention offered during the process.
A sports physical or pre-participation sports screening does not replace a complete medical exam. The primary purpose for a pre-participation screening is to determine an athlete's physical eligibility to participate and to determine health related issues which would restrict or disqualify an athlete from participating in sports. In most cases, a sports physicals or pre-participation sports screenings are priced at a flat rate and are not billed to insurance.
A school physical, however, does include all the elements of a complete medical exam. School physicals, also called complete physicals or routine health exams, are scheduled as a regular physician visit. In addition to elements contained in the pre-participation screening, a school physical may also include:
• Reviewing medical history, including review of medical records
• Interviewing and addressing issues of preventative health care
• Addressing adolescent health care issues
• Assessing need for any lab work or immunizations
• Addressing and treating medical concerns, as well as injuries
• Updating or renewing any prescription medications
• Rectal/pelvic/neurologic evaluation, if needed
In most cases, a school physical is handled like any visit to the doctor and is billed to insurance. The need for vaccinations and lab tests can vary based on the patient's age and history.
Q: Shouldn't my child be ill or show symptoms before we visit the doctor?
A: Ideally, physicals should take place when the patient is feeling healthy. This goes for kids and adults.
During a physical, your caregiver needs to be able detect any symptoms or uncover issues that might not be obvious when accompanied by cold symptoms or an ear infection. This is also a time to establish baselines - a record of the patient when he or she is in normal health. For instance, peoples' blood pressure range varies, and by establishing a patient's normal blood pressure range, a health care provider is better equipped to recognize an abnormal blood pressure level.
Physicals play an important role in preventive medicine, and preventive medicine is a central part of a primary care provider's practice. This includes health education, routine screenings, needed immunizations, disease management, and the need to establish a comfortable relationship between the patient and healthcare provider.
- Dr. Amy Johnson is a pediatrician who provides health care for children from birth through young adulthood. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa and completed her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis. Dr. Johnson is board-certified in Pediatrics and works at Monroe Clinic and Monroe Clinic-Freeport.
