Sports physicals are an option, but they’re not the best

For many kids who are delving into the world of sports — whether on school teams or select club teams — a basic prerequisite is clearance from a doctor or other health care provider, most often accomplished through a sports physical.

Pediatricians at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s recommend that sports physicals not be a standalone exam or one-off appointment with a provider who is unfamiliar with, or doesn’t have access to, your child’s full health record.

“Sports physicals are comprised of a screening questionnaire to identify any health risk or family history that would require either modifying their athletic participation or getting further evaluation. There is also a physical exam,” explains Andrea Donalty, MD, pediatrician and primary care medical director at Mary Bridge Children’s.

Dr. Donalty says the relationship with a primary care provider, such as a pediatrician or family medicine provider, provides a holistic picture of a child’s health, including any preexisting conditions that might be overlooked if a child gets only the sports physical portion of an exam — which is common in walk-in clinics or urgent care settings.

Instead, find a ‘medical home’ for your child

A “medical home” refers to where a patient receives routine or primary care. For children and adolescents, this is typically a pediatrician, but it can also include a family medicine provider.

The benefits of having a primary care provider — ideally from birth — include the relationship between the patient and provider that can last years and foster trust throughout all stages of a child’s development.

“The ideal setting is having the patient seen in their medical home and providing a comprehensive well-child or teen visit,” says Dr. Donalty. Well-child and teen visits cover all the elements of a sports physical and provide screenings for:

• Anxiety/depression
• Vaccination needs
• Social-emotional health
• Academic performance
• Nutrition and exercise counseling
• Age-appropriate sexual health review
• Discussion about risk behaviors (smoking, drinking, drug use, social media use, etc.)
• Preventative health review, including asking about access to dental care

Why are sports physicals available at urgent care clinics?

Christine Bozich, MD, pediatric urgent care physician and medical director of Mary Bridge Children’s Urgent Care clinics, says that sports physicals are offered in the urgent care setting because it’s a need in the community.

“Sports physicals serve a need in our community, but they’re not the ideal way to approach adolescent health,” she says. “It’s important for an adolescent to establish a patient-provider relationship with someone they can trust. There are so many things that can affect a young person’s health that go beyond their readiness to play a sport.”

It’s understandable that sometimes families have an immediate need for a sports physical and aren’t able to get in to their primary physician, Dr. Bozich adds. In those situations, Mary Bridge Children’s Urgent Care clinics can offer this service to families in an environment that specializes in the care of children and adolescents. When patients receive sports physicals at Mary Bridge Children’s Urgent Care, they’re encouraged to follow up with their primary care provider or to establish care with one.

Urgent care is most beneficial for non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses, or when you can’t get an immediate appointment with your child’s pediatrician. From fevers and rashes, to sprains and pink eye, Mary Bridge Children’s Urgent Care offers convenient online scheduling for in-office and virtual appointments for patients up to 20 years old.

“If we find something of concern, either in the medical history or during the physical exam, we will refer back to the patient’s medical home or to a specialist, depending on the urgency of our findings,” Dr. Bozich says.

Another benefit to receiving sports clearance during a wellness exam in the primary care setting is that they’re covered by insurance, whereas sports physicals as their own appointment typically aren’t, Dr. Bozich adds.

Mary Bridge Children’s offers a comprehensive network of primary care, urgent care and specialty care clinics in the South Sound and beyond. Establish a medical home for your child and find a primary care provider near you.