Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider (PCP):

Check-Ups

 

Intro	Check-Ups
Who PCP's Are & Why You Need One	Confidentiality
How to Find a PCP	If You Don't Like Your PCP
Health Plans & Health Care Providers	When to Visit Your PCP

Do I need to bring anything to my first check-up?

You should take a copy of your health records, including immunizations you have had, to your first check-up. You can get these records from your old provider or maybe from your school. Also, bring any medicines you are taking, or bring a list of those medicines. At your check-up, talk about any allergies or reactions that you have had to your medicines.

 

What will happen at my check-up?

Here are some of the things that usually take place during a check-up:

 

Your PCP will ask you questions about your general health, such as headaches, sore throats, infections, and stomach aches. He/she will also ask you about your health habits, such as if you smoke, drink, or use seat belts. You will also be asked about your nutrition, stress level, family history, and moods, such as depression. Check-ups will also include measuring your height, weight, and blood pressure. Your ears, eyes, throat, neck, heart, and abdomen (stomach) will also be checked.

 

Talking - Talking before the exam lets the health care provider catch up on your life and health. Your provider will probably want to spend time alone with you (with your parents out of the room). He or she will want to know about school, friends, stress - all of this affects your health. You should ask your provider any questions you have about your health or how to stay healthy.

 

If you think you might forget important questions, write them down and take the list with you.

 

The Exam - The physical examination should not be painful. If something hurts, you should tell your provider. Your provider will check your blood pressure, look at your eyes, teeth, and ears. He or she will listen to your heart and lungs and feel your stomach. Your health care provider will check your muscles, joints, and nerves to make sure everything is working well.

 

Your provider will probably want to examine your penis and testicles (testes). This is done to make sure that your body is growing normally and to check for testicular cancer.

 

During this part of the exam you may be asked to "turn your head and cough". Your provider is checking for a hernia. A hernia is a weakness in the muscles of the abdominal wall that might allow part of the intestines to poke through. It is not something you can see, but a hernia might be painful. Your provider will place a finger at the top of the scrotum. When you cough, your provider is able to feel a hernia if there is one. A hernia can be fixed with surgery.

 

Wrapping it Up - After the examination, your health care provider should explain the findings of the exam. Your provider will tell you if you need any other tests or if you need immunizations (shots) to help keep you healthy. Your provider can also tell you about other ways of staying healthy (such as wearing a helmet when you ride a bike or skateboard, or wearing your seatbelts in the car). You will also be able to ask questions about your examination or about anything else.

 

Will I need a shot?

During your teen years, you'll get a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster vaccine; meningococcal vaccines (a bacteria that causes meningitis and blood infections) at ages 11-12 and then again at age 16; and an annual influenza vaccine. It's recommended for girls to get the human papillomavirus vaccine series to protect against the virus that causes several types of cancer (including cervical cancer) and genital warts, but keep in mind that guys may get the human papillomavirus series as well. If you haven't already gotten 3 hepatitis B shots, 2 mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, and 2 chickenpox vaccines (if you haven't had the disease), you will also get these. Before you travel abroad to countries in Latin America, Asia, or Africa, you should get the Hepatitis A vaccine series (2 vaccines 6 months apart).

 

What should I do at my first check-up?

Try to be open and honest with your health care provider. You need to decide if you feel comfortable talking to your provider. You need to ask any questions that you may have. Write them down before your appointment so you don't forget. You might want to bring someone along to help you ask questions. See how well the provider answers your questions and listens to you. Are you happy with the provider at the end of your visit?

 

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Written by the CYWH and YMH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

 

Updated: 5/27/2011