Wellness (Well-Child) Exams

Wellness exams are routinely scheduled visits with your child’s health care provider — and are essential to a child’s overall health and wellness. During each well-child visit, a provider performs a physical exam, age-appropriate health screenings and any necessary immunizations. They also assess your child’s overall growth patterns and development. These routine appointments provide you an ideal opportunity to speak with your child’s provider about any health or developmental concerns — from physical, mental, emotional and social development, to sleeping and eating patterns.

At Phoenix Children’s Pediatrics, our providers partner with you and your child to promote a healthy lifestyle and overall wellness. Based on industry best practices, our wellness exams adhere to guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The following outlines what providers typically assess during a wellness exam:
 

Infant Screenings: Birth - 9 Months

Between birth and 9 months of age, pediatricians assess a baby’s overall health and wellness by conducting several physical exams to measure and track growth and development. Wellness exams for infants may include:

  • Physical measurements, such as height, weight, length, weight for length, head circumference and blood pressure
  • Sensory screenings, including vision and hearing
  • Developmental, psychosocial and behavioral health screenings
  • Newborn-specific procedures (blood test, bilirubin, congenital heart defect)
  • Immunizations (please refer to our vaccine schedule)
  • Anemia risk assessment or screening
  • Lead exposure screening, for infants at risk
  • Oral health, after 6 months


Early Childhood Screenings: 1 – 4 Years

Between the ages of 1 and 4 years, pediatricians assess a young child’s overall health, wellness and development by conducting physical exams and screenings, including:

  • Physical measurements, such as height, weight, length, weight for length, head circumference and blood pressure
  • Sensory screenings, including vision and hearing
  • Developmental, psychosocial and behavioral health screenings, including screening for autism spectrum disorder
  • Immunizations (please refer to our vaccine schedule)
  • Oral health screenings, including fluoride


Middle Childhood Screenings: 5 – 10 Years

Between the ages of 5 and 10 years, pediatricians assess a child’s overall health, wellness and development by conducting physical exams and screenings, including:

  • Physical measurements, such as height, weight, length, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure
  • Sensory screenings, including vision and hearing
  • Developmental surveillance
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessments
  • Immunizations (please refer to our vaccine schedule)
  • Anemia risk assessments or screenings
  • Lead exposure screening, for children at risk
  • Blood testing
  • Oral health screenings, including fluoride


Adolescent Screenings: 11 – 21 Years

Between the ages of 11 and 21 years, health and wellness visits with a pediatrician may include a physical exam along with the following screenings and assessments:

  • Physical measurements, such as height, weight, length, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure
  • Sensory screenings, including vision and hearing
  • Developmental surveillance
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessments
  • Tobacco, alcohol and drug use assessments
  • Depression screenings
  • Immunizations (please refer to our vaccine schedule)
  • Anemia risk assessments or screenings
  • Blood testing
  • Tests for sexually transmitted infections and HIV
  • Fluoride supplementation for oral health

Well-Child Visits: Parent and Patient Education