My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Teens
As teens grow, so does their need for privacy and independence. But you still play a big role in keeping your teen healthy. Many of our facilities offer special Teen Clinics with staff who are specially trained to deal with issues adolescents face as they mature.
Adolescent Care: What Parents Need to Know [Read/Print full article]
Teen Visits
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Now that your child is a teenager, he can begin to take a greater role in his personal health care. We want to partner with you to help your teen make this transition from childhood to adulthood.
All of our pediatricians and family medicine doctors see teens, but some especially enjoy working with adolescents. If your teen is interested in seeing an adolescent medicine specialist, we can help you connect with one near you.
Help your teen do these 3 important things:
- Choose a doctor or nurse practitioner to see regularly.
- Schedule a well check visit every 1 to 2 years.
- Keep up with all recommended immunizations.
During teen visits, we will want to see your teen privately during all or part of the appointment. Teens – like most adults – have an easier time sharing personal information with their medical professional in private.
We still want to talk with you about your questions and concerns, since you know your teen best. Please let the medical assistant or nurse know if you have any specific concerns that you wish to discuss with your child's doctor or nurse practitioner during the office visit. He or she will make sure to talk with you and address your questions.
Additional References:
- PDF Link to Guide to Kaiser Pemanente for Teens
Teen Care and Confidentiality
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In most cases, teens need to get a parent's or guardian's permission before seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner. For example, if a teen has a sore throat or needs a physical exam to play sports, you will need to give permission before your teen can be seen at Kaiser Permanente.
However, when children are at least 12 years old, they can see a doctor or nurse practitioner without a parent or guardian's permission for these confidential concerns:
- Pregnancy prevention
- Birth control
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Alcohol or drug use
- Personal, school, or family issues
Certain California state laws were passed to ensure that all teens had a safe place to go for help with these serious concerns.
We will always encourage your teen to talk with you or another trusted adult.
For more information about teen privacy regulations, please review our "Special Care for Your Teen" handout.
Staying in Touch with Your Child's Doctor
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Parents of teenagers and teens themselves have access to a select set of important online features.
If your teen is 17 or younger, and you are a Kaiser Permanente member yourself, you can sign up for "Act for a Family Member" to act on your child's behalf.
Once you receive authorization, you can e-mail your teen's doctor, schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, and check immunizations.
For any information that you want kept strictly private between you and your teen's doctors, please contact the doctor by telephone instead of sending an-email.
Teens can also sign up for their own online account, starting at age 13.
Additional References:
A Time of Growth and Change
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The teen years are a time of physical and emotional growth and change as your child transitions to adulthood. It's normal for teens to want more independence and privacy.
It's common for teens to suddenly become more interested in hanging out with friends and to have less interest in being around their parents. This is normal teen behavior, along with things such as:
• Making new best friends based on shared interests. These may be music, sports, art, or computers.
• Exploring identity. Teens may explore different clothes, hairstyles, friends, music, and hobbies.
• Spending more time alone. She may listen to music in her room or want to lock the bathroom for privacy.
• Having mixed feelings about "breaking away" from parents. One day, she may want nothing to do with you. The next day, your teen might be constantly by your side.
• Acting out or expressing emotional pain. Teens undergo major emotional growth. Some irritability, anger, or sadness is normal, and you can help your teen learn to cope with new emotions. Be aware that these can also be signs that something more serious may be going on.
• Pushing limits – especially limits set by adults. You may notice that she questions or challenges rules at school or at home. You are not alone if you feel like your teen is acting oppositional.
Our pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and family doctors know teens. We can help you understand their changing minds and bodies and support you during this time of transition.
We encourage you to take advantage of the teen health resources we offer, such as our Online Newsletter for Parents of Teens. We look forward to seeing you and your teen for regular well visits, immunizations, and any time your teen needs care.
Additional References:
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.