Loyola Univ. Health Sys. - Loyola Living June 2002 Issue - Spring is the Right Time for Back-to-School Physicals

Now is the time to make appointments for back-to-school physicals; the sooner the better says Janette Klepek, D.O., a family practice specialist at the Loyola Center for Health at Hickory Hills. Klepek urges parents to bring children for well-child exams every year, but schools require proof of physical exams before kindergarten and grades 5 and 9. By making appointments in the spring or summer, parents can beat the late summer rush and allow enough time for their physician to address any unexpected health issues before school starts.

A major objective of school physicals is making sure immunizations are up to date. This year, children entering kindergarten are required by the state to have a chicken pox vaccination. Some students entering fifth grade or high school may have missed their hepatitis B vaccines, which is a recent requirement. The hepatitis B vaccination requires a six-month series of three shots, so children and young adults will need to start early in order to complete the series before school.

Athletic forms also are a big part of back-to-school exams. Klepek prefers that young athletes come in early to allow enough time to investigate and treat any sports-related health issues such as suspected heart problems or orthopaedic problems such as shin splints or knee pain.

Loyola Primary Care Center at Darien

7511 Lemont Road

Darien, IL 60561

(630) 985-4989

Loyola Center for Health at Elmhurst, Boblick Medical Group

300 N. York Road

Elmhurst, IL 60126

(630) 833-0630

Loyola Primary Care Center at Glendale Heights

2166 N. Gladstone Court, Suite A

Glendale Heights, IL 60139

(630) 307-3637

Loyola Center for Health at Hickory Hills

9608 Roberts Road

Hickory Hills, IL 60457

(708) 233-5333

Loyola Family Health Center at LaGrange Park

321 N. LaGrange Road

LaGrange Park, IL 60526

(708) 485-1020

Loyola Family Practice at the Loyola Center for Health

on Roosevelt

1211 Roosevelt Road

Maywood, IL 60153

(708) 531-5200

Loyola Primary Care Center at Wheaton

140 E. Loop Road

Wheaton, IL 60187

(630) 665-5995

Loyola Primary Care Center at Mulcahy Outpatient Center

2160 S. First Ave.

Maywood, IL 60153

(708) 216-3356

Loyola Primary Care Center at Oakbrook Terrace

17W740 22nd Street

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

(630) 627-7399

Loyola Center for Health at Oak Park, Boblick Medical Group

7005 W. North Ave.

Oak Park, IL 60302

(708) 383-8888

Loyola Primary Care Physicians at Orland Park

15300 West Ave., Suite 303 and 304

Orland Park, IL 60462

Moving soon to:

16621 S. 107th Ct.

Orland Park, IL 60467

(708) 873-7355 Pediatrics

Loyola Family Health Center at North Riverside

1950 S. Harlem Ave.

North Riverside, IL 60546

(708) 354-9250

River Forest Pediatrics

7420 Central Ave., Suite 2040

River Forest, IL 60305

(708) 366-5800