No one would argue that modern medicine has improved the lives of most everybody. Infant mortality has decreased, childhood deaths from infectious diseases are extremely rare, many types of cancer are treatable and some can be prevented or cured, and organ transplants are commonplace. All in all, the quality of life has improved, and life expectancy has increased. Unfortunately, however, the mortality rate for teens and young adults is little changed.
In many ways teens are less healthy than they were ten, twenty or thirty years ago. This decline is health is seen across every social group – rich and poor alike. Kids from every part of town smoke cigarettes, abuse drugs and alcohol, get pregnant, become depressed, attempt suicide, murder or are murdered, have developmental disorders, and become disabled or die from accidents. Adolescents are the most medically underserved group in our population.
If we are to change this bleak picture of our young people’s health, it is imperative that each teen has his or her own doctor. Yet, almost half of all teens have no personal physician. Teens need a Medical Home with a compassionate doctor who knows and uses the Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS). For your convenience, a synopsis of GAPS is included the appendix to this book. Teens need to have an annual health evaluation, which includes time alone with their doctor to discuss sensitive issues in confidence. Also, parents must trust that the physician has the same values that they have. Choosing a doctor for your teens is not a simple task! But, having an understanding physician is necessary for your teenager’s health.