Evaluation
Clear, practical information for your next step.
Topics to discuss
- concerns about growth or weight
- rashes and other skin problems
- stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea
- sports aches and minor injuries
- acne in a child under 12
When we refer
Children are not small adults, so care follows pediatric guidance instead of adult protocols. Children with complex, rare, or hard-to-control conditions are referred to the right pediatric specialist, and your provider helps coordinate the handoff. A concern found at a school or sports physical, such as fainting or chest pain during exercise, is evaluated further before clearance is given. Severe or scarring acne is referred to dermatology.
Prepare for your visit
Bring a list of your medicines, vitamins, and supplements, including how often you take each one. Include allergies and any past reactions. If you have recent test results, discharge papers, or notes from another care team, bring them or ask how to share them before the visit. You do not need to order your own tests to prepare.
Write down your main questions and what has changed since your last visit. Note when symptoms began, how they affect your daily activities, and what you have already tried. If you track readings or symptoms at home, bring that record. Tell the team if you need help with language, transportation, or getting records so those needs can be discussed.
Decide on a plan together
Your provider starts with your priorities and reviews the history and information available. An examination may be needed before deciding on the next step. The lists on this page describe the program's general scope; they are not a promise that every test or treatment is needed or available for your situation. Ask what each proposed step is meant to answer.
When an option is discussed, ask about its possible benefits, risks, alternatives, and practical demands. Mention cost or coverage concerns before scheduling a test or referral. Some care is coordinated with an outside center, and availability must be confirmed. Do not stop or change a medicine based only on this page. Your plan should fit your health history and preferences.
Results and follow-up
Before you leave, ask how results will reach you and who will review them. Confirm the next appointment or the reason to return sooner. A referral request does not mean an appointment has been scheduled. Ask whom to contact if you have not heard back, and keep copies of outside results when possible so your care team can review them.
The follow-up schedule depends on what is found, any care started, and whether symptoms change. Ask for the next steps in a form you can use at home. Telehealth may suit some conversations when the program allows it, but an in-person examination may still be needed. For sudden or severe symptoms, use the urgent guidance rather than waiting for a routine follow-up.
Sources
- Well-Child Care: A Check-Up for Success — American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Bright Futures — American Academy of Pediatrics
- Well-child visits — MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Childhood Immunization — MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Fever and Your Baby — American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Teen Health — MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Meningitis: emergency signs — NHS