T.J. Samson | Destination Health | December 2020

I f you’re new to the area or preparing to welcome a new baby, you might be looking for a pediatric provider for your child. It’s a big choice. After all, you’re picking someone who will play a major role in your child’s health and well-being for years to come, says Alison Campbell, MD, a family medicine and pediatrics physician at T.J. Regional Health. “There’s so much that goes into raising chil- dren,” she says. “It’s good to have somebody that you can count on and trust. You want a strong ally.” Your choice in a provider may be based in part on what matters most to your family. For many parents, that includes: Seeing the same provider each time. Meet- ing with the same provider at every health care visit allows your child to build a beneficial relation- ship with a provider over time. At T.J. Regional Health, children can usually see the same pediatric provider for every visit—especially when it comes to preventive care, like checkups. “So it’s not a problem,” Dr. Campbell says. Even if your child’s regular provider is unavail- able—for instance, they’re on vacation—you can expect the same great, seamless care. Our providers work closely together and share the same elec- tronic health records system. Getting an appointment when you need it. It’s typically very easy to make a timely appoint- ment at T.J. Regional Health whenever a health issue pops up. “And we have good nurses to help when parents have questions about whether they need to make an appointment,” Dr. Campbell says. Making sure the provider is a good fit. It’s important to choose a provider you feel com- fortable with. You can ask your family or friends to suggest a pediatric provider, Dr. Campbell says. You also might want to meet with a provider and see what the office is like. Older children should have a say too. For example, some teens aren’t comfortable seeing a doctor of the opposite sex. “You want to make sure your kids are also very comfortable with the provider as they get older so that they can ask the hard questions or come to their physician with the hard issues that a lot of our teenagers face these days,” Dr. Campbell says. FULL SERVICE, GREAT PROVIDERS Throughout life, children need a variety of health care services, such as wellness checkups, immuni- zations, and care for minor illnesses and injuries. “We have a full range of services that we provide for all ages from birth through teenage years,” Dr. Campbell says. T.J. Regional Health has many highly qualified and compassionate pediatric providers to offer that care. “We have a very good team here,” says Dr. Campbell. “We have very well-trained people who have been through intensive residencies. They know a lot about taking care of kids, and they follow the evidence for immunizations and for the treatment of illnesses.” And chances are they’re near you, since our pediatric providers see kids at many convenient locations. WHAT’S YOUR TYPE? Many people think they need to know their blood type before giving blood. But that’s not true. If you don’t know your type, you will find out when you’re done donating. American Red Cross SET A LIMIT ON NEWS Are you constantly checking your phone for news updates? That’s a sure recipe for stress and anxiety. Use your social media time to reach out to family and friends instead. American Heart Association THE PROS OF PROTEIN Protein helps your body build more than muscle. It also helps boost your immune system so you can fight infections. Low- cost sources include eggs, beans, peanut butter and canned tuna. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; U.S. Department of Agriculture Alison Campbell, MD Family Medicine and Pediatrics Finding the right fit for your family “There’s so much that goes into raising children. It’s good to have somebody that you can count on and trust. You want a strong ally.” Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Platteville, WI Permit No. 7 T.J. Samson Community Hospital 1301 N. Race St. Glasgow, KY 42141 DECEMBER 2020