Children 3 years and older and teens should have a Well Check once per year. Infants and toddlers need visits at the following ages:

• 3-5 days
• 2 weeks
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 2.5 years

At each Well Check, we measure height and weight, measure vital signs, and start to screen for hearing or vision difficulties. We monitor developmental milestones to make sure there are no delays requiring early intervention. As kids get older, we also help reinforce the safety rules and habits you are already working on at home, like the importance of a good night’s sleep, healthy dental habits, and wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle. Your child’s clinician is your partner in keeping your child healthy and can help identify any issues that will benefit from education or counseling.

*Some testing and condition screening, while considered to be routine, may incur a separate financial charge for those with high insurance deductibles or “PPO” plans.

Due to the many topics covered during the Well Visit, there is not enough time to cover clinical issues such as chronic conditions, current illnesses and complex behavioral/mental health challenges. On an exception basis, a clinical issue not considered to be part of the Well Visit may be addressed during the appointment. There should not be an expectation that this will happen routinely. Follow up visits can and will be arranged throughout the year to address clinical issues that require greater attention. Please know that any clinical issues discussed that are outside the scope of the Well Visit may incur a separate and additional financial charge from your medical insurance plan.

CPCMG has a standard vaccine schedule that follows the the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for childhood immunizations. Your pediatrician or advanced practice provider (APP) will answer any vaccine-related questions and ensure that you are given up-to-date and accurate information about the recommendations. Please be sure to bring your child’s immunization card with you to each Well Check if you want it updated.

Yes, you will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns. Please know that Well Checks are intended to screen for problems that may need further follow-up. We may need a separate visit to devote the required time to more complex issues such as anxiety, headaches, or other chronic concerns.

• Complete all electronic Well Visit questionnaires via MyChart in advance of the appointment. Note: you may arrive 15 minutes prior instead of our standard 30 minutes prior if you (or your teen as applicable) have completed all of the pre-visit questionnaires.
• Complete the EZ Arrival check-in process in advance of the appointment. This allows you to update allergies and medications, confirm health insurance and submit any required copay (if applicable) in advance of the appointment. Note: this step is separate from the electronic Well Visit questionnaire requirement above.
• Expect that your child will be fully undressed or gowned/draped during the Well Visit appointment.
• Identify the top 3 areas of concern (if applicable) and relay them to the medical assistant during the rooming process (if not already entered in the Well Visit questionnaire section above).
• Bring any forms/letters that require completion understanding that they may not be able to be completed on the same day of the Well Visit appointment.
• Please, also bring your child’s immunization record.

We want to make sure that each area of your child’s life is going well. This includes conditions beyond their physical health, including behavioral and mental health concerns, the safety of the home environment, and social media use. As partners in keeping your kids healthy, we will reinforce the messages that parents typically provide to their children.

Please bring any school, camp, or sports forms. Also, please bring your child's immunization record if you want it updated.

At certain ages, we perform in-office blood tests for anemia, high cholesterol, and lead toxicity. Your child’s clinician will talk with you about what tests may be needed and the reasons for ordering them. 

In California, children 12 years and older have minor’s rights to privacy and may be offered an opportunity to speak with the clinician privately. This is an excellent time to build a trusting partnership between the teen and clinician, and allows the clinician to give accurate information about a teen’s changing body.

Some teens engage in behaviors than can pose health risks, and we want to help them make safe choices. Although we always encourage teens to be open with their parents or guardians, topics such as sexual activity and substance use remain confidential if teens don't want the information shared. The only exceptions allowed by law are suicidal or homicidal thoughts, which we are obligated to share with a parent or legal guardian and law enforcement authorities (for thoughts of harming someone else).

Most Well Check and sick visit notes for children under 12 years old are shared with parents and legal guardians on MyChart. Children 12 years and older have legal rights to privacy, so their visit notes are not viewable to parents or guardians.

Your clinician will let you know when your child needs another visit. For the first 3 years of life, children are seen for well visits frequently (every 2-6 months depending on the age). Your child’s clinician may want to see your child again at a separate visit for a follow up of a problem discovered at the Well Check. For example, if your child had a high blood pressure reading, failed a hearing screen, or did not grow as expected, there may be another visit needed before the next regularly scheduled well child check.