It's almost graduation time! Graduation from school as well as from the pediatrician. Once teens are 18 and have graduated from high school / gone off to college then it is time to transition to either a family practice doctor or an internist. Here are some things you can do to help with the transition.
1. Make sure your teen knows their medical history. Do they have any drug allergies? Have they had any surgeries? What medications do they take and what is the dose?
2. Teach your teen their family history. They need to know what health problems their biological parents and grandparents have had.
3. Teach your teen about over the counter medications and send them with a basic supply when they move out. (This way they won't be calling you at 3am about what they should take for a headache!)
4. Have your teen do their own paperwork. When forms need to be filled out for sports, driver's license, doctor's office have the teen do it and be available to help with questions. When they go to college send them with their insurance card (or a photocopy, front and back).
It is best to work on these things during the teen years so that they are all set when they leave the nest. We routinely encourage kids and teens to answer questions about themselves and to ask questions as well. By the time they graduate from high school they should be able to go to the doctor by themselves!
