Online Scheduling | Careers Home/About Us/Newsroom/Back-To-School Checkups are the Cornerstone of a Healthy School Year Refine Results Awards & Accreditations Careers Contact Us Hospital Tours Leadership Newsroom E-Newsletter Sign Up 2020 News Releases 2019 News Releases 2018 News Releases 2017 News Releases 2016 News Releases 2015 News Releases Phone Directory Quality & Safety Senior Circle Volunteer Opportunities Avg ER Wait: 13min About ER Wait Times Directions Find Our Location Online Scheduling Free, convenient online check-in services. Learn More Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter Featuring a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well. Learn More Patient Portal Access your medical information on demand. Learn More Back-To-School Checkups are the Cornerstone of a Healthy School Year 8/11/2021 BULLHEAD CITY, AZ – With homeschooling and hybrid learning disrupting classroom learning for the past 18 months, it’s easy to forget what preparing for a “normal” school year might look like. In addition to buying new clothes and stocking your child’s backpack with the right supplies, an annual physical and the proper immunizations will start your child’s new school year on a healthy foundation. “Annual checkups allow a physician get to know the medical history of your child and monitor their development from year to year,” says Dr. Ryan Hunley, family medicine physician at Silver Creek Family Practice. “Establishing a comfortable doctor-patient relationship with a child, as well as beginning a record of baseline information and history makes it easier to identify potential concerns over time.” Children should receive an annual checkup with their physician even if they are healthy. At a checkup, your child will receive a full physical exam including measurements such as height and weight. This is a good time for parents to discuss any developmental, emotional or social concerns with the physician. Most insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover a free annual well-child visit. Immunizations are another important way to protect your child’s health. While COVID vaccinations are not yet available for children under the age of 12, there are numerous other vaccines parents should discuss with their child’s physician, especially for children beginning school for the first time. Receiving the right shots at the right time will help protect your child from contracting various diseases and help prevent the spread to others. Talk with your physician to learn on what vaccinations your child should receive and at what age. “It is essential for children to receive the appropriate immunizations at the appropriate time, especially before beginning school,” Dr. Hunley said. “These shots will protect your child in the long run.” If you child or teenager is involved in sports or other physical activities, their coaches may require a sports physical before they begin to play. A sports exam is similar to an annual physical exam, with addition of the physician’s review of sports-related matters such as nutrition and injuries. A primary care physician such as a family practice or pediatrician will be able to conduct a sports physical for your child. If you need help finding a primary care physician, visit WARMCdocs.com to be connected with one of Western Arizona Medical Group’s qualified primary care physicians or practitioners. To reach Dr. Hunley’s office, call (928) 763-9290. Vaccines: A Guide for Parents Vaccine protection far outweighs the small risk of serious side effects. Thanks to vaccines, many serious childhood diseases are rare today. Without vaccines, diseases can return and impact large numbers of the population. Click here for a “Birth through Age 18 Immunization Schedule” as recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Back Western Arizona Regional Medical Center 2735 Silver Creek Road Bullhead City, AZ 86442 (928) 763-2273 Connect with us on Facebook ADA Accessibility Policy Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Notice of Privacy Practices Patient Rights & Responsibilities © Copyright 2021 . All rights reserved. Notice of Nondiscrimination English, አማርኛ, العربية, বাংলা, ျမန္မာဘာသာ, tsalagi gawonihisdi, 繁體中文, Chahta, Oroomiffa, Nederlands, Français, Kreyòl Ayisyen, Deutsch, ગુજરાતી, हिंदी, Hmoob, Igbo asusu, Ilokano, Italiano, 日本語, 한국어, Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀, ພາສາລາວ, Kajin Ṃajōḷ, ខ្មែរ, Diné Bizaad, नेपाली, Deitsch, فارسی, Polski, Português, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, Română, Русский, Gagana fa'a Sāmoa, Srpsko‑hrvatski, Español, ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂, Tagalog, ภาษาไทย, Türkçe, Українська, اُردُو, Tiếng Việt, èdè Yorùbá