Physicians
Physicians have a large impact on the health of families within their community. Family physicians and pediatricians see families with young children at regular intervals during their earliest years and are therefore in a key position to monitor healthy child development. As they routinely provide care and assess children during their well baby visits, physicians can offer advice and guidance to parents thereby improving outcomes for children.
The Ontario College of Family Physicians identifies the enhanced 18 month well baby visit as the optimal time to engage parents, identify children that may not be meeting their milestones and connect families with early intervention services in the community. The use of the standardized assessment tools, the Nipissing District Development Screen and the Rourke Baby Record review the recommended physical screening procedures for the well baby visit.
Best Start links physicians with parents, community health and child development services to improve outcomes for children. Partners share comprehensive, evidence-based information and resources with Ontario healthcare providers and connect them with services in the community.
Update: a new OHIP fee code came into effect in 2009 for an enhanced 18 month well baby visit.
Available Resources:
Getting it Right at 18 Months…Making it Right for a Lifetime, report of the expert panel on the . . 18th Month Well Baby Visit, Ontario Children’s Health Network, September, 2005.
See report at:
www.ocfp.on.ca/local/files/CME/Research/FinalRpt-18MonthPrjct-ENG.pdf.
For further information about any resources, contact County of Lambton Children Services Department at 519 344-2062 Ext. 2342, 1-800-387-2882 or Best Start at 519 542-9842 or 1-888-542-6101.