While it’s important to stay on top of your child’s physical health, Access Health Louisiana healthcare providers want to encourage parents and caregivers to be just as important about their child’s behavioral health. .
They say taking care of both physical and mental health at the same time is important at any time, but especially important in light of the pandemic.
“Pediatric primary care and behavioral health are inextricably linked right now, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chenier Reynolds-Montz, director of outreach, development and operational support at AHL. he said. “At our clinic, we see children for illnesses and illnesses through both telemedicine and in-person appointments. It is important to consider a total mind-body approach to managing children’s health. .”
AHL operates the St. Charles Community Health Centers in Luhring and Norco and serves as the parish’s health department. He also operates the Albert Cammon Wellness Center and the JB Martin/RJ Vial Wellness Center, both of which serve students during school hours.
The coronavirus pandemic has been a stressful time for many families, especially children, so parents and caregivers can look for signs that their child’s behavioral health may be vulnerable and require treatment. need to be sensitive to.
Katie Ussery, MD, attorney, and lead AHL therapist at NCC, said there are many signs that a child needs treatment.
“Parents and caregivers can look for changes in mood, which may include anxiety, sadness, or increased aggression,” she says. “Children may have problems with sleep or appetite. Other signs may be that children want to isolate themselves from family and friends, or vice versa. can become more obsessive.”
Ussery said children may need treatment if they regress to a previous stage of development or show little interest in things that normally bring them joy. She added that some children may start complaining of physical complaints such as headaches and stomach aches, or begin to perform poorly in school when they need mental health care.
“Another important thing to remember is that even if everything seems to be going well, therapy can be beneficial for children,” Ussery said. “Children often need someone outside of their family system to feel safe talking to, no matter how great their family is.”
Ussery said there has been a lot of talk in the medical industry lately about mind-body care, with AHL therapists and pediatricians working together to refer patients and implement individualized treatment plans.
“Our therapists believe in mind-body care,” Ussery said. “Many people practice and receive training in yoga, meditation, and other relaxation and mind-body techniques. We look at individuals as well as diagnoses. We look at them mentally and emotionally. , I try to help physically.”
Ussery has also referred patients to fitness coaching, nutritional guidance, occupational therapy, physical therapy and massage.
“Access Health has over 100 providers,” she said. “This makes things easier to reference.”
Ussery added that through creativity, AHL behavioral health providers have been able to incorporate gameplay, art, music, and bibliotherapy into telehealth behavioral sessions.
“With social distancing, children are consistently returning to phone appointments in our clinic,” she said. “I think this shows that there is a need for treatment and that both parents and children are comfortable with telemedicine. In the past, there has been evidence to support that telemedication is effective. But I think we’re actually testing this evidence and proving it to be true.”
Dr. Abby Lewis-Smith, a pediatrician at AHL’s Lulin Clinic, agreed.
“It’s amazing how much this concept has helped us,” Lewis said of telemedicine, and AHL doctors urge parents and caregivers to keep up with regular care. he added.
“Yes, visits are very important,” she said, echoing the sentiment about the flu vaccine. “Influenza and COVID-19 are unfortunately very likely to appear at the same time in both the fall and winter, and health systems will have a hard time determining what illness it is. It can definitely be overwhelming…especially because these infections cause symptoms like: Same thing.”
She said the flu vaccine helps.
“This will help address the illnesses that patients have and ensure that the medical health system is not overwhelmed by trying to respond to both influenza and COVID-19 at a time when we expect a surge in both cases. will also be helpful,” Lewis said.
Michelle Conboy, a certified pediatric nurse who also works at the AHL Luling clinic, said regular well visits help health care providers stay on track with each child.
“It’s definitely important to continue well visits to keep vaccinations on track and get the flu vaccine,” she said, adding that for young babies and high-risk patients who can’t get the vaccine, families can He added that it will be important to: Let’s get it and make sure everyone is protected.
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Conboy spoke of how hard AHL providers work to make referrals from pediatric care scenarios to behavioral and mental health services as easy as possible for everyone involved.
To schedule a telemedicine appointment or in-person visit, call 985-785-5800 for our Luling clinic or 985-307-1600 for our Norco clinic.
