Services / Procedures
WELL INFANT, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT CHECKUPS
Regular checkups are recommended to monitor the healthy development of growing children from birth through early adulthood. Infants and toddlers should follow the well visit schedule: 2 to 3 days after leaving the hospital for newborn checkup, 2 weeks of age, 2, 4, 6 and 9 months of age. Then 12 months, 15 months and 18 months. Then 2 years of age and annually thereafter. Even if immunizations are up to date, it is recommended that your child have an annual physical and check growth and development.
Our Doctors are specially trained to handle the needs of growing children through each stage of their life. Well child visits are comprehensive exams that screen for any disease risks and provide nutrition, safety, immunization and development information. During these exams, your doctor or nurse practitioner will monitor the development of your child and measure his or her height and weight, blood pressure(3 years of age and above), head circumference(18 months of age and below), as well as examining the body from head to toe. Any preventative needs will be provided as well, including laboratory investigations.
COMPLIMENTARY PRENATAL CONSULTATION
A prenatal consultation is recommended for expecting mothers as an opportunity to meet with your doctor and discuss the details of your pregnancy. This allows doctor and patient to develop a trusting relationship and discuss any potential complications, existing health conditions or other circumstance that may affect you and your baby. During this consultation, you doctor will obtain your complete medical history. Any and all questions will be addressed at this visit.
We offer a complimentary prenatal consultation for all expecting mothers to let you get to know our doctors and how our practice operates before making a decision. We understand the importance of this stage in your life and hope you will choose one of our doctors to help you through each step of the way.
IN HOSPITAL CARE FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
At Pediatric Medical Associates, we understand the importance of your child’s health and well-being, which is why we maintain an experienced team of Pediatricians dedicated not only to office care, but to hospital care for your newborn as well. Pediatric Medical Associates do not utilize Pediatric Hospitalists to care for our newborns admitted to the hospital, but rather care for our own patients. This provides the best continuity of care and transition from hospital to office. Our Pediatricians directly communicate with Pediatric Sub-specialists if needed in the care of your child and coordinate the care of your child with nursing staff and other Physicians involved in providing optimal medical care to your child during his or her hospital stay.
We offer specialized care for each stage of your child’s life from newborn through early adulthood. Our doctors are trained and experienced in treating a wide range of childhood problems, from emergency care to treatment of birth defects and chronic or developmental conditions.
All of our patients are treated with patience and warmth to help keep both parent and child calm and reassured during these worrisome experiences.
NEWBORN CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision is an elective procedure for newborn males that may be performed for medical, religious, or other reasons. This procedure is usually performed in the office during the first three weeks.
The circumcision procedure can only be performed on healthy babies and those who do not need care from a urologist for any abnormality of the penis. It is of paramount importance that your newborn male receive the vitamin K shot prior to any surgical procedure. Although complications rarely occur, special care may be needed to help the penis heal with as little pain and bleeding as possible and to avoid secondary infection. Your doctor will discuss all aspects of the procedure with you before you make your decision and a circumcision permit will need to by signed by you before the doctor can perform this surgical procedure.
ACUTE CARE FOR ILLNESS AND INJURIES
Although minor illnesses and injuries do not often develop into serious conditions, it’s still natural to want specialized, urgent care for your child. Our doctors are available whenever you need them, to treat conditions such as:
- Sprains
- Broken bones
- Ear infections
- Sore throat
- Rashes
- Pink eye
- Fever
- Allergic reactions and allergies
- Urinary tract infections
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Colds
- Asthma/pneumonia
- and many more conditions that may arise
As always, we provide our young patients with warm and comforting care to ease the worries of both parent and child. We strive to provide fast, long-lasting relief for any symptoms your child may be experiencing through the least invasive treatment options available. Your child’s health and happiness are our priorities.
MINOR LACERATION REPAIRS
Lacerations or wounds are common injuries that often occur from the skin hitting an object and most commonly affect the scalp, face, legs, arms, hands, and feet. Minor lacerations are often short and shallow, but may have bleeding, and may carry a risk of infection.
The main goal of laceration repair is to stop the bleeding and optimize healing while decreasing the risk of scarring and infection. Laceration repair usually involves cleaning and preparing the wound after anesthesia, before closing it with stitches or on occasion DermaBond glue. Follow up care will be required to remove the stitches and monitor the healing process. Most minor lacerations heal successfully with no complications. Complicated lacerations or lacerations requested by the family will be referred to an appropriate Pediatric Sub-specialist.
MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC ILLNESS IN CHILDREN
At Pediatric Medical Associates, we offer long-term care for patients with chronic illnesses. Despite the physical and emotional toll these conditions can take on patients and their families, we strive to provide the most effective treatment options with the least amount of interference in your child’s daily life.
We work together with families to educate them on the latest disease information and train them to maintain a healthy home lifestyle. It is important for families to stay involved with treatment of chronic illnesses in order to offer support and understanding for the affected child.
CAMP, MISSION, SCHOOL & SPORTS PHYSICALS
A camp/mission/school/sports physical exam(pre-participation physical exam-PPE), is a thorough medical examination that determines whether or not it is safe for an athlete or individual to participate in a particular sport or physical activity. Sports physicals are often required for your children and teens before they are allowed to join a team sport and are usually repeated before each season. A sports physical includes a detailed medical history that is usually on a form filled out prior to and after the exam. The physical part of the exam may include:
- Recording height and weight
- Checking blood pressure and pulse
- Vision testing
- Heart, lungs, abdomen, ear, nose and throat examination
- Genitourinary exam
- Evaluating posture, strength, and flexibility
At Pediatric Medical Associates, we offer physicals to provide confirmation of our patient’s health for schools or other sports organizations.
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING
Developmental screening is a routine diagnostic procedure used to identify any potential developmental delays. Early detection is a valuable tool in treating nearly every condition, in order to end the problem if possible before it progresses and possibly prevent future damage or delays. Developmental screenings can identify delays that can indicate autism, mental retardation and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, among others.
Screenings can be performed through simple questioning during a regular checkup to ensure that your child is progressing at a rate that is considered normal. This takes only a few minutes at each doctor’s visit, but can play a major role in identifying and then treating early developmental conditions.
BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATIONS
Children with behavioral problems often cause worry and concern among parents, who may be unsure of how to treat this situation. A behavioral consultation allows our doctors to observe your child’s natural activity and interaction, as well as interview yourself, in order to assess behavior and develop a solution.
Consultations can be performed at any age, but are most common among school-age children. Our doctors/nurse practitioner will work together with you and your child in order to develop an individualized treatment plan that will be followed through and monitored through family encouragement and subsequent consultations.
IMMUNIZATIONS
While infants are protected from certain diseases at birth because of antibodies passed from the mother, this protection is temporary. Immunization from these diseases can be achieved through vaccination with vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pediatric Medical Associates offer these vaccines given at the recommended(or modified per your request) age for your child and will discuss with you the risks and advantages of each one.
ADOLESCENT GYNECOLOGY
Pediatric Medical Associates can offer evaluations and appropriate referral for Gynecological concerns of our female patients.
OTHER SERVICES
- Newborn care at Banner Children’s at Desert and Gateway Medical Center
- In office laboratory
- Saturday after hours availability ( 8:30 AM til noon) Suspended during pandemic
- Same day appointments for illness or injury
- Scheduled appointments and consultations
- Referral and coordination of care with specialists
- After hours physician phone access for illness or emergencies