Well Child Exams Specialist
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Austin Square Medical Group
Gregory J. Facemyer, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
Family Practice & Board Certified/Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians located in Youngstown, OH
Regular well child exams ensure your child’s utmost health and development and keeps them up to date on crucial immunizations. Family Physician Gregory J. Facemyer, MD, FAAFP, offers comprehensive well child exams at his practice at Austin Square Medical Group in Youngstown, Ohio. To learn more, book an appointment online or call the office.
Well Child Exams Q & A
What is a well child exam?
A well child exam is part of your child’s preventive care appointment and is designed to:
- Evaluate a child’s growth
- Monitor development
- Screen for specific health problems
- Educate parents
- Administer immunizations
What happens during a well child visit?
At the beginning of the visit, the staff at Austin Square Medical Group perform a variety of tests to check for chronic illnesses and childhood obesity. The services they perform include:
- Measuring weight and height
- Checking blood pressure
- Checking heart rate
- Calculating body mass index
- Performing a urinalysis
- Checking blood sugar
- Checking hemoglobin
Dr. Facemyer evaluates these measurements for any problems. You’ll be asked questions about your child’s development, health habits, school performance, and sleep habits. Adolescents are screened for behavioral health risks using questionnaires.
Dr. Facemyer takes the time to address parents’ questions and concerns about their child’s health and development. He performs a complete physical examination and administers any immunizations the child may need.
How often are well child visits recommended?
Frequent wellness checks are necessary at the beginning of a child’s life. As the child ages, however, they will see the doctor less often. Babies should see Dr. Facemyer:
- Within the first 2-5 days of life
- At 2 weeks of age
- At 2 months of age
- At 4 months of age
- At 6 months of age
- At 9 months of age
- At 12 months of age
- At 15 months of age
- At 18 months of age
- At 24 months of age
- Annually thereafter
What immunizations do children receive?
Dr. Facemyer administers all of the immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Immunizations protect your baby from developing life-threatening illnesses.
The immunizations provided include:
- Hepatitis B
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
- IPV (polio)
- HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
- PCV-13 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
- Rotavirus
- Influenza
- Varicella
- Hepatitis A
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Meningococcal
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
Feel free to ask any questions about immunizations with Dr. Facemyer; he’ll explain their importance and field concerns with compassion and care. If children miss immunizations because of illness or scheduling difficulty, he’ll recommend an appropriate make-up schedule. Please note that some insurance companies require that some or all vaccinations be performed at the local health department.
Are immunizations safe?
Immunizations may cause mild side effects, including fever, swelling, and pain at the injection site. Serious side effects are rare. Immunizations protect children against illnesses that can cause serious medical problems and death. An overwhelming amount of medical evidence demonstrates that current vaccines do not cause autism and that their health benefits to children and the community as a whole outweigh potential risks.
