Fredericksburg Parent

30 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • October 2020 Q: How important are regular well checks for children, and what are some good questions for parents and children to ask at those visits? Dr. Erwin: Well checks are super important. Even if a child hasn't had a lot of illness since his or her last appointment, it's still important to take a look things like growth and development, and other things parents might not be thinking about on a daily basis. If a child is veering from the normal path of growth or development, early inter- vention can make a big difference. As a parent, when you walk in for a well visit, think about your child's development and ask yourself, "Do I feel like they are doing the things other kids their age are doing?" Think about their language skills, gross and fine motor skills as well as social skills. These kinds of developmental questions are part of the "Ages and Stages" developmen- tal screens that we do in the office. These days, we are actually working toward getting those started ahead of time through the MyChart patient portal. We are working on that right now as a way to make these visits even more efficient. Other things to think about are: • How has school been going? • Is your child happy at school? • Is your child happy at home? • Is your child fitting in socially, and are they making friends? • Does your child have any significant worry or sadness, or issues adjusting to any changes going on around them at school or at home? Q: What is beneficial about having an established pediatri- cian who sees your child as they grow at these regular visits? Dr. Erwin: The relationship is really important. In the early years, it's important from a parent perspective to get to know me and develop that comfort level. As the years go on and a child gets older, it's important to devel- op that relationship so that they feel comfortable as an adolescent coming to me with any mental health concerns or concerns related to puberty or sexual health. It's important to feel comfortable and safe and create that environment where we can have a dialog. Q: What would you want parents to know about keeping up with regular pediatrician visits dur- ing the pandemic? Dr. Erwin: Mary Washington Pediatrics has put proto- cols in place to ensure everybody is safe. This includes setting aside specific hours for well visits, so that sick and healthy patients are separated, thorough cleanings in between visits, temperature checks, health screen- ings and many other measures to keep everybody safe. Dr. Richard Erwin started serving patients with Mary Washington Pediatrics more than three years ago. He and his colleagues, Drs. Blair Ryland and Rhonda Winchester, provide care for children from birth into their 20s from their office at 2632 Salem Church Rd. in Spotsylvania County. In addition, Dr. Daniel Trementozzi serves patients at Mary Washington Family Medicine and Pediatrics in Ladysmith. Dr. Trementozzi also speaks Spanish. These board-certified physi- cians are all accepting new patients. Mary Washington Pediatrics helps fulfill Mary Washington Healthcare's overall goal to provide comprehensive care for women and children throughout the Fredericksburg area. Pediatric patients can interact seamlessly with Mary Washington's OBGYN, maternal and fetal care, including the region's only Level III NICU, and a 24/7 partnership with Children's National Hospital. Access to records (including your child's immunization dates) and appointment sched- uling continue to be made simpler through MyChart, MWHC's user-friendly patient portal. Dr. Erwin spoke with Fredericksburg Parent and Family Magazine about the importance of pedi- atric visits, and how crucial it is to keep them up, even amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Comprehensive care for children at all stages Comprehensive care for children at all stages Mary Washington Pediatrics: Mary Washington Pediatrics: INTERVIEWED BY EMILY FREEHLING Sponsored Material

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