FOR MANY ADOLESCENTS, PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE is not a high priority and the doctor is someone you see only when you get sick or hurt. Members of this population may also feel they’re getting too old to see a pediatrician or may simply feel uncomfortable discussing physical or emotional concerns with the same doctor who has been treating them since they were very little. As a result, too many adolescents are “slipping through the cracks” of the healthcare system, in some cases going many years without receiving medical care.
“For some adolescents, especially those who don’t participate in sports, the last contact they had with a physician may have been around age six when they started school. So, this group is potentially left without healthcare,” says Douglas Federman, MD, an internal medicine physician at South Toledo Internists at The University of Toledo Medical Center. “If they don’t have a specific need, they don’t go. They tend to think they’re invincible—or, as I like to say, they still have that Superman or Superwoman ‘S’ on their chest.”
The good news for adolescents in our community who are age 16 or older is that South Toledo Internists recently lowered the minimum patient age from 18 to 16, creating an opportunity for them to get established and build rapport with an internal medicine physician before they age out of their pediatrician’s practice.
In addition to having extensive medical expertise, an internist could be described as a “healthcare quarterback.” Like a football quarterback, internists must oversee their patients’ comprehensive healthcare and fully understand the role of each provider on the patient’s care team. They can also coordinate referrals to other specialists as needed, though they typically have the expertise to manage a broad range of complicated health conditions themselves.
From Dr. Federman’s perspective, the most important thing for adolescents is to establish a relationship with a doctor—any doctor—whether that means an internist or another primary care physician. Establishing or maintaining this relationship will ensure they’ll continue with routine medical exams and wellness visits so any developing problems can be detected and addressed early, before they become a major health crisis, and referrals to other healthcare specialists can be made if appropriate.
Back-to-school sports physicals are among the important healthcare services many adolescents require at this time of year, and Dr. Federman emphasizes the importance of doing these in person once again rather than via telemedicine, especially the component of the exam dealing with heart health. Of course, normal age-appropriate immunizations also need to be administered before school resumes.
There are many other good reasons for adolescents to establish a rapport with a physician as well. Dr. Federman notes, “With COVID, which is still likely to be an issue, that doctor-patient relationship may be even more important because there are potential health impacts associated with social isolation, concerns over school performance, reduced physical activity levels, and other lifestyle factors.”
As students (hopefully) transition back to in-person classes after a year of remote or hybrid learning, one thing that worries Dr. Federman with respect to younger patients is that many will feel—or actually be—left behind academically and will be less prepared for standardized testing. “That concern along with additional stressors can be reflected in their mental health, so that’s something we’re going to have to watch very closely,” he says.
Though COVID will still be a major factor this school year, it isn’t the only serious respiratory illness against which adolescents need to be immunized. Dr. Federman reminds HLN readers that young people should also be vaccinated against influenza. “We don’t know what this year will look like in terms of the flu. Last year we saw a decrease in respiratory illnesses, likely due to all the precautions people were taking for COVID, but every year is different,” he states.
An internist or other primary care provider can also look at adolescents’ individualized risk for developing different health issues based on factors such as family history, lifestyle habits, and social behavior. Dr. Federman comments, “Adolescence is the age when sexual experimentation starts to happen along with behaviors such as vaping, cigarette smoking, and marijuana use. There are a lot of new things going on at this age that need to be considered during an evaluation.”
South Toledo Internists is often able to provide same-day appointments. The practice also offers telemedicine appointments (in addition to office appointments) from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for patient convenience. This can be a tremendous benefit for adolescents who will be heading off to college this fall because this technology will allow them to see their established, familiar doctor while they’re away at school without having to travel back home. Also, a lab, radiology services, and a pharmacy are all located in the same building, offering “one-stop shopping” for patient convenience.
Call 419-383-5614 to schedule an appointment with a South Toledo Internists provider. South Toledo Internists is located at the UT Comprehensive Care Center, 3333 Glendale Ave., in Toledo.
An internal medicine physician, or internist, is a highly trained medical specialist whose role is to diagnose, treat, and prevent the broad spectrum of diseases that occur in adults.
