Everything You Should Know About School Physicals

Before your child resumes school or goes for sporting activities, it is paramount to take them for school physicals to ensure their overall health and wellness. Ensuring your child’s general health and wellness with a Freeland school physical at Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania is the first step to academic excellence.
Why should you take your child to a school physical?
School physicals refer to the routine medical check-ups that evaluate your child’s general wellness and ability to participate in academics, sports, and fun extracurricular activities. While getting your child new school clothes and writing equipment may sound vital, school physicals are more critical for your child’s academic performance and general health.
In some schools, school physicals are mandatory at the beginning of every year or before the sports season. The medical exam ensures the child is protected against life-threatening medical conditions. Safeguarding your child’s health and that of their classmates is a to priority for specialists at Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania and most school administrators.
Are school physicals the same for all ages?
School physicals are the same for children of all ages, but as your kid gets older, you can expect the initiation of new health aspects. The medical exams ensure that kindergarten and preschool kids are up-to-date with their vaccinations before sports or the beginning of school.
During this age, kids learn the questions to ask, what to expect and how to prioritize their health. Most children are delighted to find out how much they have grown since their last school physical. Middle school is a stage where the exams become challenging due to the numerous changes they undergo during adolescence.
The experts offer tips on embracing these changes, boosting self-confidence, and prioritizing personal health. For the high schoolers, the physicians equip them with knowledge, tools, and resources to make reasonable decisions.
What do you need for a school physical?
When visiting the Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania for a school physical, you may need to carry a photo identification card, an insurance card, any form of payment, and specific school forms necessary for the exam.
What should you expect during a school physical?
During the friendly physicals, the providers welcome you and your child before conducting vital signs check. The team measures your child’s body mass index (BMI), height, pulse, growth patterns, and weight during the medical exam. The team may also review your child’s health history and enquire about your family health history, past surgeries, current symptoms, and medication regimen.
Your specialist may also assess your child’s eyes, abdomen, breathing, heartbeat, ears, and throat. The team may also check for signs of diseases, injuries, and illnesses that may need medical intervention. They may also conduct hearing and vision screenings.
In some cases, the child specialists may request heart function testing, urine tests, throat or nasal swabs, allergy testing, and X-rays to provide an accurate diagnosis. If your kid is due for specific vaccinations or requires treatment for a disease or an injury, the team is happy to accommodate them.
Call the Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania office or book your spot online to schedule a school physical for your child.