Why Refer to Adolescent Medicine?

According to guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics, an adolescent health specialist provides adolescents with comprehensive care and treatment for a variety of problems and conditions, including:

• Physical exams required for drivers' permits, college entrance and sports participation
• Sports medicine and orthopedic problems such as scoliosis
• Growth and development issues
• Acute or chronic illness, from strep throat to asthma, diabetes and congenital disabilities such as cerebral palsy
• Headaches, chest pain and other aches
• Gynecologic and reproductive health or sexuality issues
• School, learning and attention problems

A Multispecialty Approach to Treatment
Our team is led by a dedicated group of board certified physicians. Team members include a physician assistant, a social worker and nurses, each of whom has specialized training and experience in working with adolescents and young adults. In addition, medical students and physicians training in our pediatric residency program participate on our team.

We work closely with other subspecialties and departments at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital including infectious disease, psychiatry, orthopedics, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, nutrition services and child life services to provide coordinated, comprehensive and teen friendly care.