Neighborcare Health, the largest provider of health services to people without insurance or with Apple Health (Medicaid) insurance in Seattle, wants to make sure everyone can get the heath care they need and deserve. An important part of your health care is having regular visits with a medical and dental care team who care about your personal goals, culture, and values.

Preventive care

Regular wellness visits to a provider for health screenings, dental care and more help people of all ages maintain their health so they can reach their goals. At a wellness visits, a care team will learn about your lifestyle and work with you to manage health concerns, such as diabetes or high blood pressure before they become more serious and cause other issues. 

 

Since 2020, many people have delayed getting important medical care due to concerns about COVID-19. In the first few months of the pandemic, 41% of adults delayed or avoided medical care and 9.2% of parents put off taking their children to their well-child visits. These concerns are valid and an important part of keeping yourself and your family safe. Now, it is important to get your and your family’s wellness back on track so they can be mentally and physically healthy.

Wellness visits for children

It is especially important for children to have their regular well-child visit to keep them healthy and strong as they grow. Well-child visits are routine visits to the doctor when your child is not sick, to monitor growth and update vaccinations. They are also a great time for families to ask questions and learn about their child’s health. During the first two years of life, Neighborcare Health recommends that infants and toddlers get check-ups at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 months old, then once a year until they turn 18. 

Why are well-child visits important? 

1. Monitoring growth 

Well-child visits provide an opportunity for your family’s health care team to see how your child is growing and track developmental milestones. These include emotional wellbeing, social behaviors, and physical health. Going to see the doctor regularly helps them get to know your child so they can catch any health issues before they become a problem. It also gives the family a chance to ask any questions or talk about worries about your child.

These visits are especially important during the first 1,000 days after a baby’s birth, because their brain, body and behaviors are changing quickly. These changes are like building blocks that work together to prepare your child to learn to walk, talk, read, reason, and think. They can positively impact your child’s future health, ability to connect with others and do well in school.

2. Vaccinations 

Many children also receive vaccinations during their regular well-child visit. Vaccinations are important to the health and wellbeing of children because they protect them against serious but preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough.

Some benefits of vaccinations include:

• Saving your child’s life or preventing them from getting very sick

• Protecting those who cannot get vaccinated

• Reducing costs and time away from school and work

• Protecting future generations

Neighborcare Health offers vaccinations at neighborhood medical clinics and school-based health centers throughout Seattle and on Vashon, including:

• Flu shot

• Hepatitis A

• Chicken pox

• Pneumonia

• Shingles

• Tdap or DTaP (Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis aka whooping cough)

• COVID-19 (ages 6 months and older)

4. Health education

Regular well-child visits provide an opportunity for care teams to share how you can help your child learn the healthy habits they need to thrive. Learning healthy habits in childhood leads to healthy habits when they are adults, including:

• Food: getting the right nutrients is important as children develop.

• Exercise: staying active every day is necessary for children to stay healthy.

• Sleep: being well-rested is important part of your child’s growth and development.

Regular well-child visits and advice from a trusted care team helps set your child up for success by preventing health issues and helping them to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. People of all ages are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with a care team so you can get your health back on track.

About Neighborcare Health

Neighborcare Health is the largest provider of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care services in the Seattle area serving low-income and uninsured families and individuals, seniors on fixed incomes, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness. Their mission is to provide comprehensive health care to families and individuals who have difficulty accessing care; respond with sensitivity to the needs of culturally diverse patients; and advocate and work with others to improve the overall health status of the communities they serve.