Summer is an important time to help school‑aged patients get prepared for the upcoming academic year. Encouraging families to schedule well visits, stay up-to-date on vaccinations, and complete required school forms can make the transition smoother for everyone.
Here are strategies to help you bring pediatric patients in for care this summer:
Identify who is due for a checkup. Use HPSM e‑reports, the Stellar platform, or your own patient registries to identify and reach out to patients who are due for well visits.
Explain and offer visit options. Let families know what kind of well visits you offer (phone, video, or in‑person). Remind them that all these types of well visits are covered at no cost for HPSM members.
Offer flexible scheduling. Extend weekday hours or weekends, if possible, to make it easier for busy families to come in.
Host vaccine clinics. These can help patients get seasonal vaccines or catch up on any immunizations they may have missed.
Use Electronic health record (EHR) templates to streamline care. Age‑specific templates can help ensure Bright Futures documentation is complete and can trigger reminders for future visits.
Combine sick visits with overdue well visits. If a patient comes in because they are sick and they are also due for a well visit, consider completing both the well visit and evaluating their symptoms. If their health allows, offer any needed vaccines as well.
Provide adolescent‑friendly care. Use age-appropriate and engaging materials that speak to teens’ interests and developmental stage. Ensure each adolescent has dedicated private time with their provider to support confidentiality.
Connect families with specialists. Refer patients to dental, vision, or mental health providers when needed.
Schedule ahead. Before families leave a well visit, schedule the next one. After sick visits, confirm whether a future well visit is already on the calendar. If not, schedule an appointment.
Target outreach. Identify patients with missed appointments. Reach out with letters or phone calls to help families reschedule. Once a well visit is scheduled, send them extra reminders.
Share your ideas with us! How else are you helping HPSM members get ready for the new school year? Send your strategies to Julian Aldana, HEALTHmattersMD Editor—your ideas may be featured in an upcoming provider newsletter.