Our Services / Adolescent Care

What is adolescent care?

Adolescent care is an area of medical practice focused on addressing the health needs of children as they enter and move beyond their teenage years. This is a time of substantial transition, and your child will experience numerous changes as they navigate adolescence. 

Having the guidance of a trusted medical advisor can make a world of difference in how your child handles the shift from child to adult. Having great experiences during these visits can also help set your child up for outstanding health and wellness during adulthood. 

What should my child expect during their adolescent care visit?

While there are certainly some health issues that all children face, adolescent care is highly personalized to meet your child’s unique set of needs. Just as no two kids are exactly alike, no two adolescent care visits will focus on the same topics. 

Some of the issues covered during adolescent care visits include:

• Puberty 
• Menstruation 
• Birth control
• How to prevent, screen for, and treat sexually transmitted diseases
• Sexual health and issues of consent
• Stress management
• Behavioral health
• Mental health

Your child is a distinct individual. As such, your pediatrician strives to shape each adolescent care visit around their unique needs and goals. 

What happens when my child is too old for adolescent care visits?

One Family Pediatrics can continue to see your child through adolescence and up to 21. At that point, your now-adult child will need to find their own primary care physician. 

Don’t worry about this transition, however. Your pediatrician can help your child find a great physician who can guide them on their continued health journey. All of your child’s records can be transferred over, as well. This helps give the new practitioner insight into your child’s health history. 

Kids enter adolescent care around the age of 11-12. They can remain a patient until the age of 21, at which point they’ll begin working with a primary care physician or internist. 

Kids have very different self-management skills at both ends of that age range, and your pediatrician understands those differences. Every effort is made to gradually train your child to take an active role in their health and wellness, which happens over time. 

When you’re ready to begin, call the office to book an adolescent care visit. Online booking is also an option and can be done anytime.