Children grow and change rapidly as they advance from toddlers to teens to young adults—because of this it’s important to closely monitor their health and development and address any issues as soon as possible.

Parents need to ensure their K-12 children get a well-child examination every year. 

The good news is that while every child needs to have an annual examination, scheduling these visits has never been easier for parents. In Barbour County, parents can utilize the on-site health clinic at their child’s school to conduct an annual well-child visit—a convenient option that benefits students and parents alike.

Why Well-Check Visits Are Important

Research confirms the link between children’s health and their academic performance. Children in good health are more likely to attend school regularly, stay focused in class, and participate in extracurricular activities.

As an important preventive medicine practice, an annual well-child visit can identify health issues or conditions that may require treatment, medication, or the attention of a specialist. For this reason, a well-child examination is critical for detecting health issues that may prove problematic if left untreated. 

Untreated health issues can lead to absenteeism, poor grades, and behavioral problems—outcomes neither children nor parents desire.

What Happens During a Well-Child Visit

During a well-child examination:

• The child’s overall health and development is evaluated
• Children can receive any necessary vaccines for preventable diseases 
• Prescription refills or a referral to a specialist can be provided if an identified condition warrants additional evaluation or treatment

Perhaps the most important advantage of a well-child visit is that it’s an annual examination. Children grow and their needs can change significantly over 12 months. Ensuring a child is seen annually is the best way to confirm they stay healthy and on track developmentally.

Relying on School-Based Clinics

BCHA encourages parents to take advantage of the well-child visits offered in all Barbour County schools through our Brandon School-Based Health Services. 

The Brandon School-Based Health Services clinics go far beyond conducting sports physicals and providing comprehensive care to K-12 students. These in-school clinics also provide counseling for mental health issues, chronic disease management, and urgent care for sudden illnesses.

Parents can schedule a well-child visit to take place during the school day at their child’s in-school health clinic. This is a convenient option for parents who otherwise may have to take off work to get their child to a healthcare provider for the appointment. It’s also convenient for the child, who spends less time out of class. 

What Parents Need to Know

While well-child examinations can be conducted in the school health clinic, parents are strongly encouraged to attend, though their presence isn’t required. When parents do attend, they can be fully aware of their child’s health status and take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions of the provider conducting the examination.

As far as costs, parents should be aware of the following:

• Standard charges for well-child visits are billed to insurance, Medicaid, or directly to parents (including copays) 
• Most insurance plans cover an annual check-up, meaning the well-child visit may be free of charge 
• Medicaid requires that children receiving the benefit get an annual check-up 

Living Their Best Lives

Keeping our children healthy is a priority for parents. Scheduling annual well-child visits through your child’s in-school health clinic is an easy—and important—way to keep them succeeding, thriving, and living their best lives every school year.