Does a 12yo “need” a pediatrician?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might not think your DD "needs" a pediatrician/GP bc you claim your kid is seemingly healthy, but maybe DD wants to chat with a medical professional about things that she doesn't want to confront with you.

The question is whether the child can have a general practitioner as a PCP, or whether tweens are still required to be under the care of pediatricians. The question is not "Does my child have to have a general practitioner?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is total neglect. There are shots she missed at ages 9,10 and 11.

Wtf??

No, unless you are counting yearly shots like the flu vaccine, there are no regular vaccinations at 9 and 10. My kids will be 11 in the spring and they did not get any shots at their last 2 annual visits. They do have some shots that are due at their 11 year old annual check up.

+1 I think a lot of parents get a little lax during these years, especially if their kids rarely need a doctor otherwise. I admit I did. But we went back at 12 and she got caught up, easy peasy. I think she only had to get two shots after missing three years of well visits.

[Anonymous]

OP, get her to a doctor who treats 12 year olds, whether a ped or a family care doctor.

She is on the cusp of needing three HPV shots instead of 2 (if you wait too long you buy her an extra shot). She is missing scoliosis checks and hearing checks and growth checks and routine blood work. It is past time. Get her in.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to the same family doctor/general practitioner office that we go to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, get her to a doctor who treats 12 year olds, whether a ped or a family care doctor.

She is on the cusp of needing three HPV shots instead of 2 (if you wait too long you buy her an extra shot). She is missing scoliosis checks and hearing checks and growth checks and routine blood work. It is past time. Get her in.

She is not on the cusp. If you get the first one before age 15, you only need two. And routine bloodwork? My kids have never gotten routine bloodwork at well visits. For what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Family medicine doctor or pediatrician, either one.

But for god sake, get her to a doctor ASAP. Get her old doc's office to send records to new doc for vax records. She needs her HPV vaccine.

And doesn’t she play any sports? You need a doctor paperwork every 12 months.

Plus schools require vax requirements

What state or country do you live in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long story short, DD12 hasn’t been to see her actual doctor since her birthday 2019. COVID happened and we didn’t need to go for any reason within the last 3 years, but now the school has sent paperwork that she will need a couple immunizations before middle school next year.

She’s 11 but will be 12 soon. She’s had her period for nearly a year, if that matters at all. She has ZERO desire to see her current/old male pediatrician. But does she “need” a pediatrician? Can I find a female general practitioner? Or will they make me have her see a pediatrician?

Also, is it possible for somewhere like Walgreens to pull her records and see which of these shots she needs? The website says they offer them.

You didn't say where you are located, and while she doesn't need a pediatrician, she does need a doctor. My suggestion is a place that specializes in teens. For example, if you are in Montgomery County, the Teen and Young Adult Care Center, or something similar if that location is inconvenient

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Family medicine doctor or pediatrician, either one.

But for god sake, get her to a doctor ASAP. Get her old doc's office to send records to new doc for vax records. She needs her HPV vaccine.

And doesn’t she play any sports? You need a doctor paperwork every 12 months.

Plus schools require vax requirements

What state or country do you live in?

You realize lots of kids don’t?

[Anonymous]

You need Tdap by age 11 for school. Is your child in public school?

[Anonymous]

If she wants to see a female pediatrician that's fine.

She's still quite young pediatricians still would be the better fit here, they receive training specifically on puberty issues.

With a girl who's started her period you'd probably want her iron checked. A pretty shocking number of teen and preteen girls have anemia issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have health insurance? Why would you not have a doctor for your child? Yes, your child needs a doctor and yes it will be a pediatrician as that who sees patients that age. You can easily find a female pediatrician.

You did have reasons to go the last 3 years...the annual well visits where they would have given her immunizations on schedule. They do other things like eye and ear exams. And they help build a relationship so the doctor is there when you need them and the child trusts them and doesn't feel the way your daughter now feels about her old pediatrician...that she doesn't want to go.

Don't listen to this crazy PP!! There are plenty of family doctors out there, OP. Where do you live, we can give you suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have health insurance? Why would you not have a doctor for your child? Yes, your child needs a doctor and yes it will be a pediatrician as that who sees patients that age. You can easily find a female pediatrician.

You did have reasons to go the last 3 years...the annual well visits where they would have given her immunizations on schedule. They do other things like eye and ear exams. And they help build a relationship so the doctor is there when you need them and the child trusts them and doesn't feel the way your daughter now feels about her old pediatrician...that she doesn't want to go.

We DO have one for her, as I mentioned in my post. We just haven’t been for a well-checkup since 2019. In 2020 they were only doing them for young babies, and we just didn’t go in 21-22. She hasn’t been sick. There was no need to go.

Now we need to go and she’d like a female doctor.

Oh, so you're an anti-vaxxer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Family medicine doctor or pediatrician, either one.

But for god sake, get her to a doctor ASAP. Get her old doc's office to send records to new doc for vax records. She needs her HPV vaccine.

And doesn’t she play any sports? You need a doctor paperwork every 12 months.

Plus schools require vax requirements

What state or country do you live in?

Hm, my DD plays rec sports, no paperwork required.

[Anonymous]

A family practitioner is fine. Your daughter would probably be okay with a physician's assistant for primary care. I find that PA's are very good with children.

And don't fret about not seeing the doc in a long time. Without me realizing it, one of my kids went three years without being seen and was taken off the books. I had to fill out all sorts of paperwork to get him back there. Our pediatrician only sees kids up to age 19 and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with my 18-year-old.

[Anonymous]

What about an NP practice?