quality reports : Clinical Quality


Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Pediatric Care:
Well Visits for Adolescents Ages 12 to 21

Healthcare quality measure: This measure looks at adolescent patients between 12 and 21 years old. It shows the percent of those patients who had at least one well visit during the past year. These well visits (or “check-ups”) with a doctor or other healthcare provider are to see how well the adolescent is growing and to give information about avoiding risky behaviors. They are not the same as visits when the adolescent is sick.

Reasons for this measure: Adolescence (the teenage years) is a time of major change. As your child becomes an adult, he or she will experience body, brain, emotional, and social changes.

Adolescence is also a time when some health problems end and new ones can start. Problems now may put your adolescent at risk for the rest of his or her life. The purpose of a well visit each year is to promote healthy patterns and prevent lifelong problems.

Ways your doctor can help...

  • Talk with you about what to expect as your child grows. This discussion will include normal changes as well as problems that may arise.
  • Teach you ways to help you adolescent stay healthy - now, and throughout the rest of his or her life.
  • Discuss how to avoid risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, drugs, or unprotected sex.

Ways you can help...

  • Become a partner with your adolescent’s doctor or healthcare provider. This means working together for his or her good health.
  • Make and keep all the appointments your adolescent needs. This includes well-visits, shots, and appointments when he or she is sick.
  • Call or visit your adolescent’s doctor when there are problems or something seems wrong. This includes changes in how your adolescent acts - when he or she does something quite different from before.
  • Help your adolescent develop good habits. This includes eating healthy foods, being active each day, and using precautions such as safety helmets or seat belts.

Ways to learn more...

Click here to search for your doctor's medical group results
or to compare measures across medical groups.

 

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