As the new school year approaches, ensuring the health and well-being of students is a top priority. Dr. Sophie Austin, a primary care provider, shares her insights on the most important health screenings and vaccinations that students should undergo before classes begin.
What are the most important screenings for students before the school year starts?
Screenings change based on age, but generally include checking on their growth, development, vision, hearing, and immunizations. Sports physicals are also important to evaluate for any dangerous heart, lung, or musculoskeletal issues that can show up with increased exertion while playing sports. These are all included in a typical well child visit or sports physical visit.
In addition, I like to address any ongoing health concerns to allow kids to be able to best focus on school once the academic year starts. These can vary, but might include headaches, asthma, allergies, constipation, or painful periods. Problems that may be only a minor inconvenience in the summer can cause kids to have absences during the school year.
It’s also a good time to review anything that went well or needs improvement from the last school year – coming up with a game plan sooner than later helps kids avoid falling behind in the first couple months of school.
What vaccinations are required for students, and which are optional for returning to school?
In North Carolina, kindergarten and 7th grade are the milestone ages for vaccines. Entering kindergarten requires DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis or whooping cough), Polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Hib (Hemophilus influenzae), hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), and Pneumococcal. Entering 7th grade requires these, plus an updated Tdap and meningococcal (bacterial meningitis). Details of these requirements can be found on the NC Department of Health and Human Services website.
Optional vaccines include HPV (human papillomavirus – a vaccine that can help prevent cancer), flu, and COVID-19. I recommend these since kids are around so many people each day and exposure can happen in school settings.
What specific health conditions or concerns are typically identified during back-to-school screenings?
Most often, health screening visits are uneventful and reassuring. Sometimes, minor vision or hearing abnormalities are noted, which can be followed up and treated before the school year starts. Mental health or behavioral conditions, like depression, anxiety, or ADHD, can be identified before they result in a decrease in academic performance. Addressing concerns early allows us to implement a plan with teachers or school nurses at the beginning of the school year, if needed. I also ask kids about their diet, hydration, and sleep, so that we can set them up for success before getting back to a school routine.
How can parents prepare their children for health screenings?
It is recommended that even the healthiest kids have an annual “well- child visit” with their doctors. This is important to keep screenings and immunizations up to date and catch any potential health problems early.
I always encourage parents or guardians to accompany their children to the appointments, as you are their best advocates! However, as kids get older, we often direct questions to them first, and even ask parents to step out of the room for a few minutes. This allows kids to get comfortable expressing their concerns and learn to take autonomy over their health.
I recommend confirming that your child’s annual visit is up to date and, if not, calling your doctor’s office to schedule. It’s helpful if you make note of any school forms or requirements that may be needed before the visit and bring these to the appointment. If you are establishing with a new provider, try to obtain the child’s previous vaccination records as well as records of any other significant health history.
What is your background and what led you to pursue a career in primary care?
I grew up in a small town in North Carolina, loving the community surrounding me. As I continued my education in college, I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. I found it fulfilling to treat both kids and adults while in medical school, which led me to my combined residency training in both internal medicine and pediatrics. Upon finishing residency and moving back to North Carolina, I sought the long-term relationships that can be developed in primary care and being able to serve as a guide and advocate for patients of all ages.
As a primary care provider, how do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I do my best to finish my charting at work, so that I can focus on my family, friends, and hobbies at home. Sometimes this balance is difficult, especially if I have a patient weighing heavily on my mind, but I have found that it allows me to be even more present while at work. I also have supportive coworkers who care for my patients tremendously when I am out of the office.
What are your hobbies or interests that help you recharge and bring a unique perspective to your work?
I really enjoy reading on my Kindle – especially mysteries, memoirs, and contemporary fiction. I love that it is something I can do to decompress anytime and anyplace. I have also ridden horses competitively since I was 10 years old, and it still brings me joy no matter what else is going on in my day or week.
Do you have a favorite cuisine?
I’ve been a vegetarian for most of my life, and now I’m trying to eat vegan more often. I am a terrible cook, but my meat-eating husband is an incredible chef and has done an excellent job dabbling in vegan dishes.
