From staff reports:

The University of Washington’s (UW) Neighborhood Clinic program is reminding parents that an important back-to-school step is a quick visit with their child’s pediatrician.

UW’s Neighborhood Clinic program offers these tips for parents and kids before school starts:

• List concerns you have about your child’s health, and bring the list to the checkup

• Review your child’s medical history, in order to answer any questions the doctor may have about your child’s health; UW Medicine/Neighborhood Clinics notes it’s important to inform the pediatrician of any “major illnesses and injuries, chronic health problems, and health problems that emerged in the last year.”

• Talk with your child about the appointment and encourage them to ask any questions they might have during the checkup

• Compile a list of medications your child takes, including dosages and how often each medication is taken

• If you have a child that plans on participating in school sports, make sure to bring the authorization form to the check up. Those forms are easily available from districts and schools, and often times, can be found on their websites.

• Make sure that your child’s immunizations are current and that the doctor has a copy of the immunization record

• Obtain a doctor’s note for any medications your child may need to take during the school day. This would include short-term medications such as an antibiotic, to a long-term daily medication, like those needed to treat asthma.

Learn more

To learn more about the UW Medical/Neighborhood Clinic program, visit uwmedicine.org/uwnc.