In all likelihood, your child is going to need a physical exam at some point for a school activity (like sports or band) or to go to camp. But what’s involved in a physical and where can you take them to get one? We’ll explain why physicals are important, what to expect and how we’re working to make them convenient for your family.
What is a Physical Exam?
A physical examination, or physical for short, is a routine set of tests to examine your child’s overall health and is also used as a preventative measure to ensure their whole health going forward. It’s also sometimes referred to as a clinical examination, medical examination or wellness check.
A physical can be performed by your child’s primary care provider or by one of our board-certified nurse practitioners conveniently located at an AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens near you. This exam isn’t to diagnose if your child is sick, but rather to determine they’re healthy enough to participate in activities like sports.
Between May 1 and September 30, your child can get a physical at one of our 15 AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens clinics conveniently located around Tampa Bay. They’re offering special pricing on physicals for students at a reduced rate of $30, down from the normal $60. Most locations even have evening hours, seven days a week, to work with your busy schedule, with no appointment required.
Why are Physicals Important?
Routine physicals allow their provider the opportunity to track any changes in your child’s body and overall health. They’ll be able to notice any potential problems developing and provide important preventive care.
Physicals are also important for keeping up with any vaccinations, including boosters, new available vaccines and seasonal vaccinations against the flu.
What’s Involved?
The series of tests given during your child’s physical will check their vital statistics like blood pressure, heart rate, and weight.
If they have a family history of illness or certain types of inherited disease, their provider may focus more on certain tests than others.
Oral Exam — Their provider will ask them about any changes in their body they’ve noticed since their last physical, which may indicate something in need of closer attention. These questions may involve asking about any injuries, allergies, medications or supplements they’re on since their last physical.
Visual Exam — The visual exam part of the physical has their provider looking for the appearance of any potential conditions. They’ll look at your child’s eyes, head, chest and abdomen for any abnormalities and check their musculoskeletal health by looking at their hands, wrists and other joints, and check their nervous system and motor skills by testing their speech and walking.
Physical Exam — During the physical examination portion of the testing, their provider will be physically touching your child quite a bit, so they should be prepared for it. Their provider will look in their eyes, ears, nose and throat to look for any indications of infection or other problems. They’ll also listen to your child’s breathing and heart to make sure there are no problems there, as well.
Their provider will also touch or push on parts of their abdomen and possibly other areas to look for any abnormalities or pain and check their reflexes, as well. They’ll also check their hair, skin and nails for any signs of problems.
Where to Get Your Child’s Physical
In our continued effort to provide you and your family with high-quality, convenient whole health care, AdventHealth is now working with Walgreens to bring you AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens conveniently located near you, open seven days a week and many with evening hours.
If your child requires a physical exam for school, sports or camp, please visit our site to schedule an appointment or call
Call844-397-0018 to make one today. Walk-ins are also always welcome.
