Teen At Heart

Health

The Role of Preventive Medicine in Teenage Healthcare

Preventive medicine is an expanding field as the value of delaying or averting illness and disease becomes increasingly appreciated. It costs less to prevent disease than it does to try to cure it and a healthier lifestyle reduces medical expenses in the long run.

The adolescent population represents a particularly important group for prevention efforts because their health habits can impact their lifelong wellbeing. Adolescents can benefit from a wide range of preventive services, including immunizations and regular screening for psychiatric disorders.

In addition, the adolescent years are a time of rapid growth and bodily development, including sexual maturation and …

Health

Helping Teenagers Manage Chronic Conditions

Adolescence is a unique developmental period that requires cognitive and physical growth the development of a sense of identity and close relationships with peers. For teens living with a chronic medical condition or disability adolescence can be particularly challenging because it is often a time of increasing independence and increased social demands. Often, these demands are in conflict with the medical treatments that are necessary to manage a chronic illness or disability.

It is important for teens to feel empowered when it comes to their health care. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they should be completely on their own, but …

Health

The Importance of Open Communication about Medicine

Effective communication is one of the foundations for effective operations patient safety and quality healthcare delivery. Despite this, healthcare professionals are often stymied in their efforts by a variety of communication barriers. In a recent Sermo poll, physicians identified issues such as delayed information, technical challenges and outdated technology as some of the most common obstacles to efficient communication.

Providing a comfortable environment where staff can express their concerns and opinions is a critical component of effective leadership. However, this requires an open-minded and respectful approach from all leaders. This means not being defensive or shutting down communication channels when …