From pediatrician to practitioner
There’s a lot to deal with when raising a teenager. Newfound independence, increased school work, changing friend groups and hormones — lots of hormones. You may be wondering when your child should become active in their health care. Gregory Buran, M.D., senior medical director at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, sat down to address some of the most common questions on helping educate your child about their health care and how to get them involved in their care.
And, with over 40 years of experience in the medical field, Dr. Buran has gained some valuable insight.
What’s an appropriate age for my child to get involved in their care?
Every situation and kid is different, but once they hit 13 they can start to share in the decision-making. This gives them a chance to get comfortable with talking to their doctor while still having a parent there as a support system.
Help your child take the next step in their care
As your child grows, so can their role in managing their health. If they’re ready to be more involved and want a new doctor, log in to myWellmark® together to search for local, in-network providers.
What can I do to help my child or teenager better understand their medical care now that they’re older?
It always starts with open conversation. Give your child more responsibility when you go to the doctor. Have them fill out the forms. Let them go into the exam room by themselves (if the doctor's office allows) for at least a portion of the visit. Give them some time to privately discuss things with their primary care provider (PCP) or doctor that they might find embarrassing to discuss in front of you, the parent. Let your child assume some responsibility when it comes to their own health care. That way they start to take more of an ownership of their health. It gives your child a chance to do the talking.
What can I do to help prepare my child to become educated about doctor visits?
Talk to them about your family’s health history. If there are any hereditary illnesses such as heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, mental health conditions, substance use disorder, it’s important that they know. Some of these subjects can be uncomfortable, but it’s better to be open, and sharing with them ahead of their doctor's visit gives them time to process the information.
What are some questions I can ask my teenager about their care preferences?
You always want to ask open-ended questions. Be careful about asking ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions. By asking them, “what are you comfortable with…” or “what are your thoughts on…” you give them the chance to answer without swaying them one way or another.
These types of conversations need to happen early in order for your child to know their thoughts and choices are respected. But, as a parent, you always have the responsibility and right to do what’s in the best interest of your child.
What are the benefits of my child having a primary care provider?
Regular care and developing a relationship with a primary care provider is important at any age. But just like with adults, it can fall to the wayside, especially after age 14 because that’s when scheduled immunizations are finished.
Your child may come in for sports physicals, but it’s important they see a doctor for a yearly preventive exam. There’s a medical necessity, in addition to building a trusted relationship with a doctor. When they see the same PCP, that doctor can not only monitor their growth and overall health, but they can monitor their mental well-being as well. When an adolescent comes in regularly, their provider can discuss healthy and unhealthy lifestyles (drugs, smoking, alcohol use), sexual education and provide mental health checks — specifically screening for depression, which has been on the rise for the past decade.
With the prevalence of social media, how can I be sure my child is getting correct, age-appropriate health information?
This is just another reason it’s so important for your child to have a PCP they know and trust. When they have a non-judgmental, trustworthy doctor who they can talk to and can ask questions, they will be getting legitimate information from a reputable medical source instead of a friend or social media influencer.
As a parent, what can I do to help the child/doctor relationship?
One of the most helpful things you can do is share what you’re noticing. If you see changes in your child’s symptoms or behavior, reach out to their doctor ahead of the visit. That context can help the doctor bring up the concern directly with your child and ask thoughtful, age‑appropriate questions.
Giving the provider a heads‑up allows them to come to the visit with helpful context and ask more targeted questions, often leading to more meaningful conversations than one‑word answers. Many health care providers appreciate this kind of insight from parents.
If your child is ready to become more involved in their care and has expressed interest in finding a new doctor, log in to myWellmark together to search for in-providers near you and read reviews from other Wellmark members.