School Physicals Specialist Q&A

A school physical is a health examination performed by a licensed physician to ensure each child is in good health so that they can safely participate in school-related activities. These physical exams do not replace the need for a normal annual physical; both should be completed every year.

These wellness checkups are required by most schools before a student can participate in sports and other activities and are typically one of several visits children and teenagers have with their doctors every year. This annual appointment gives doctors a chance to monitor growth and development and address any social, physical or emotional concerns.

The ultimate goal of a school physical is to make sure that each child is in good health for the upcoming school year and can safely participate in school-related activities, such as physical education. These annual visits are a great way to keep track of a child’s health, get their official growth statistics, and address any health concerns with their doctor as well as ask any health-related questions the parents might have about their child. Physicals are also an excellent opportunity to make sure that kids have no urgent health concerns and that each child’s vaccinations are up-to-date. These checkups give the school and athletic staff information to best care for each child and address their unique medical needs.

School physicals often consist of:

Preventative Screening — During a school physical, parents will go over their family’s medical history with the doctor and also talk about their children’s past injuries, previous surgeries, or any hospitalizations they may have had. This gives the doctor insight into whether the child is at risk for serious health conditions that run in the family or ones that could arise from previous medical events.

School Requirement — Many schools require children to receive a school physical before admittance, which involves updating their vaccination record to prevent serious, life-threatening diseases. School physicals can also help teachers and educational staff determine whether they have the proper resources needed to educate children with learning disabilities. Prior to the new school year, parents must provide schools with the necessary documents that prove their children have received a school physical and the latest required vaccines.

Sports Requirement — Any child who plays sports in school has the risk of sustaining an injury, such as a strain or sprain. Some schools advise children to receive a sports physical prior to participating in sports, which allows the school to prepare for any health or medical problems a child might have as a result of past hospitalization, injury or medical conditions.

Vaccinations — Often part of a school physical, vaccinations are required by most school districts and will be updated during the physical, if necessary. Vaccines administered during a school physical might include those that prevent HPV, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, chickenpox, influenza, pertussis, rubella, and many other diseases and viruses.

The cost of a school physical varies depending on several factors, including:

• The location of the clinic
• The age of the child
• The number of tests performed
• Insurance coverage

Based on the aforementioned factors, the cost of a school physical can range from nothing (covered by insurance) to $100, although the average cost is around $40 to $50. If your child is in need of a school physical, bring them to Dr Pedro Ylisastigui, MD! Our physician is experienced at performing school physicals and can help you make sure your child is in good health! We are conveniently located at 1150 Lee Blvd. #4 Lehigh Acres, FL 33936. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Lehigh Acres FL, Fort Myers FL, Buckingham FL, Cypress Lake FL, Gateway FL, Cape Coral FL, Palmona Park FL, and Alva FL.