Is your child healthy?

A Good Pediatrician Checks More Than Boxes

As a parent, one of your biggest concerns is the health and safety of your child. When choosing a pediatric provider, it’s important to have a good rapport with that person and trust them. A parent should feel comfortable asking any and all of their questions. For a child, their provider can become a trusted adult who they can talk to no matter the subject.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Kalee Wysuph explains, “My job is to be here for your child and you to ensure they are healthy physically but also mentally.” Health care providers like to develop relationships with patients and parents, which helps them see things that might be concerning, or something that doesn’t seem normal for that child.

“Kids don’t fit into a graph; we know what abnormal looks like, but each child is unique and ‘normal’ can be pretty broad,” shares Wysuph. “If kids are progressively developing and making advances in their speech, knowledge and abilities, this is what I focus on, not if your child can speak a certain number of words by a certain age.”

As a mom, Wysuph can relate to what you are going through as a parent. “I’m a mom to four kids,” shares Wysuph. “I feel like I have a lot of the same experiences as the parents who bring their child to me. I’ve been through sleep regression, issues with breastfeeding, potty training and so much more.”

WELL-CHILD VISITS

Regular checkups are important for your child’s physical, emotional and social health and development. These visits ensure your child is healthy and thriving.

Wysuph generally starts a well-child visit by making sure any immediate concerns are brought up so everyone knows what needs to be accomplished during the visit. “I like to hear about all the things the child is doing at home since the clinic setting isn’t their natural environment and may cause different behaviors.”

These visits touch on a variety of areas, including eating, bedtime, screen time, development, fine and large motor skills, communication and speech. “As children get older, we start talking about how they are doing socially and in school,” Wysuph says. “A physical exam is part of the checkup as well as screening for depression and anxiety or other mental health concerns.”

As kids age into puberty, well-child visits are an opportunity to talk with the child and parents to ensure they are aware of the changes coming. “Sometimes it means starting this conversation in the office but continuing at home,” explains Wysuph.

In addition, well-child visits are a chance to talk about vaccinations as well as making sure children are current with required immunizations. As kids return to school, these vaccinations are one piece of the puzzle to keep kids healthy. “I like to make sure patients and parents understand what vaccine they need, why they need it, and if boosters are needed and when,” says Wysuph.

MORE THAN HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND SHOTS

“Visits with your provider are so much more than checking off boxes on a list,” says Wysuph. “There is so much more to your child’s wellness than those items.” These regular visits are important to ensure children are reaching their developmental milestones and have a medical provider for their entire health care journey.

“For older children, I am able to be a safe and trusted adult. At 15 or so, we start seeing children without parents in the exam room. Often, I’ll get a more honest response to my questions when a parent isn’t around,” explains Wysuph. “I’m able to assure them that our conversation is confidential unless the child shows intention of harm to themselves or others.”

Wysuph points out adolescent and teenage years are hard. “Being true to yourself and keeping open lines of communication with your parents or another trusted adult is so important to kids’ wellbeing.”

Whether you are pregnant, with young kids or even teens, find your perfect pediatric provider by visiting essentiahealth.org to learn about each of our highly skilled and relatable providers to make the best decision for your child.

Essentia Health now offers 24/7 scheduling for pediatric appointments. You can call 701-364-8900 anytime to make an appointment with any of our pediatric providers at Essentia Health-South University Clinic. You can also book appointments through our website or MyChart patient portal.

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