By Todd Wineburner
At the Livingston County Public Health Department, they’re encouraging parents to think ahead when it comes to getting children ready for the upcoming school year. In a recent conversation with WJEZ, the health department’s Teri Saxton said the emphasis is on getting school physical and vaccination appointments made now. “You want to get this done before summer starts if you can,” Saxton said, “and you have it completely out of the way so that by the time registration comes it doesn’t slip up on you and you can’t register for school.” Saxton says school physicals are required at specific points during a child’s academic career, but sports physicals are different in that students need sports physicals for any school year in which they want to participate.
Saxton says that services can be combined, if necessary, so that multiple appointments can be avoided. She says most physicals are finished in an hour or less.
Students up to college age can get physicals for 55 dollars. The department does bill insurance and cost adjustments are available for those who aren’t covered. Appointments are available every Wednesday starting in June. They’ll run until the end of July, with appointments starting at 8 a.m. each of those Wednesdays. Exams are performed by nurse practitioners and if something of concern is discovered, that information will be reported to the family’s primary care physician. Student vaccinations are also available through the health department and can be administered as needed. Appointments can be made at (815) 844-7174. You can hear WJEZ’s complete conversation with Teri Saxton on our podcasts page. Look for the link in the menu bar at the top of the page.
