CLINTON, Iowa – MercyOne wants parents to think ahead and schedule their child’s sports physical before the clinics start getting fully booked.
“By late July our clinics are already booked from open to close for school physicals,” Dr. Joseph Martz, family medicine provider at MercyOne Clinton North Health Plaza, said in a news release.
Mr. Martz added: “We want parents to know those visits can be done now and the earlier they schedule their student’s physical, the more availability we have to conveniently fit in their schedules.”
Yearly physicals are required by school districts to help ensure safety for students, especially those participating in sports. Before classes and extracurricular activities begin, it is important that students receive a physical to ensure there are no underlying health issues that might interfere with participation. During a school and sports physical, parents can expect:
- Physical exam
- Update immunization
- Check growth and development
- Review medical history
“To avoid getting hurt on the field or court, your teens need to be prepared,” says Dr. Mark Woods of MercyOne Morrison Family Medicine. “That preparation starts with seeing their physician to make sure their bodies are ready for the season ahead. Teens who aren’t in sports also need a yearly physical to monitor their development and overall health and wellness.”
