According to Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) pediatrician Ross DeHovitz, a child's risk for certain health conditions changes as he or she grows. To provide optimal health care to newborns, children, teens and adults, PAMF's Health Maintenance Guidelines Task Force annually evaluates new guidelines and recommends how they be incorporated into day-to-day practice for specific age groups.

PAMF's health maintenance guidelines incorporate current research and the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Task Force. The guidelines are evidenced-based, have been rigorously evaluated and have been shown to provide positive results based on numerous studies.

"These age-specific guidelines help us to deliver the right immunizations and screenings at the appropriate time, truly helping our kids stay healthy as they grow into adolescents and eventually adults," said Dr. DeHovitz, a member of PAMF's Health Maintenance Guidelines Task Force.

Dr. DeHovitz added that there are solid examples of the numerous benefits to having patients follow health maintenance schedules. For example, polio was eradicated from the Western Hemisphere because of recommended vaccination schedules.

Health Maintenance Guidelines: Birth to 17 Years

This month, PAMF updated its health maintenance guidelines. Below are the current guidelines for newborns through children 17 years of age.

• A health maintenance evaluation should be scheduled at each of the following ages:
  
  • 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months
    
  • 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years
  
  
  
• A vision screening test should be administered at 5 years of age.
  
  
• Females who are sexually active should be screened for chlamydia annually and have a Pap test performed three years after their first sexual encounter and every three years thereafter.
  
  
• The following chart identifies the appropriate ages during which vaccinations should be given.
  
  Click to enlarge
  View a complete list of vaccinations

For more information and health maintenance guidelines for additional age groups, visit www.pamf.org/preventive.

Note: Your child's personal physician or health plan may have different recommendations and guidelines. Parents with children who have a higher risk for certain conditions because of personal health problems or specific family history of life-threatening disease should consult their child's personal physician for an individualized maintenance schedule.
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